"Boehly really wants him" - Transfer insider drops big Chelsea claim on £480k-per-week
superstar
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly ‘really wants’ to sign Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo
and believes he could go on to become a Stamford Bridge ‘icon’, according to transfer insider
Dean Jones.
A consortium led by Boehly completed a £4.25billion takeover of the Blues in May and the American
has not hesitated in backing head coach Thomas Tuchel in the summer window, with more than
£84million being spent on fresh faces.
There are serious doubts over Ronaldo’s future at Manchester United after he told
the hierarchy that he wants to seal his Old Trafford exit if a satisfactory offer is lodged
during the remainder of the transfer window.
The 37-year-old was due to travel back to Manchester ahead of holding talks on Monday,
but the Red Devils are insistent that he is not for sale.
Despite his current employers’ stance, it is understood that Ronaldo will demand an
imminent transfer and make it clear that he has no intention of extending his £480,000-per-week
contract.
Boehly has already held a meeting with the Portuguese star’s agent Jorge Mendes, where
talks over a potential move to Stamford Bridge were held.
While Chelsea have an interest, Atletico Madrid have also stepped up their pursuit of Ronaldo
by placing striker Antoine Griezmann on the transfer market.
Jones understands that Boehly is leading Chelsea’s charge for Ronaldo’s signature and is eager
to lure him to Stamford Bridge.
However, the transfer insider believes sealing the deal could backfire on head coach Thomas
Tuchel following his inability to get the best out of Romelu Lukaku.
Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Obviously, Atletico is opening up as the most plausible option
here and now, but we’ve just seen Chelsea lose 4-0 to Arsenal, we’ve seen Tuchel talking
about not being particularly happy and we know they need goals in that team.
“Boehly really wants him as an icon and as a guaranteed goalscorer. They’re finding
some options that fit into this team but, if it comes down to none of them working out,
I think he’ll say ‘Ronaldo is there. Let’s get him’.
“That will put Tuchel in a tricky situation because, with Lukaku last year, he ended up
taking a top striker that didn’t fit in. He might be in that situation again with Ronaldo.”
Ronaldo is a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, while he has also won a host of trophies at
club and international level, emphasising his status as one of the greatest footballers
of all-time.
He may be coming into the final years of his career, but the 187-cap Portugal international
is still capable of producing the goods.
That is shown by him finding the back of the net 24 times following his return to Manchester
United last August, taking his overall goals tally at club level up to 694.