Cristiano Ronaldo rejection coming back to haunt Chelsea

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 8 Nov 2022 15:57 GMT
• 7 min read

Chelsea spent lavishly in the summer transfer window, but their costliest decision might have been the one by then-manager Thomas Tuchel to turn down the chance of signing Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Blues had the opportunity to sign the wantaway Ronaldo from the Old Trafford club but a decision was taken by the German that he would not fit in with the team. This was in spite of owner Todd Boehly pushing for a deal, which was likely borne largely from commercial reasons.

Tuchel’s call is likely the same one that Graham Potter, who is now in charge, would have made but in hindsight, it might have been wiser to take the risk on the Portugal international striker, who continues to seek a route out of Man Utd.

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Instead of Ronaldo, Chelsea wound up with another aging forward in the form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – a player that Barcelona were desperate to offload because of financial reasons.

The former Arsenal man, though, has proven to be a disappointment. In 13 appearances for the club, he has managed only three goals, one of which came on debut against Crystal Palace. Since then, he has tallied a couple of times against AC Milan, another of his former employers, in the Champions League.

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Aubameyang’s woeful Arsenal showing

Aubameyang’s weaknesses re made apparent on Sunday, though, as he was handed a starting opportunity. He was withdrawn after 64 minutes, having touched the ball just eight times, echoing Romelu Lukaku’s infamously bad performance against Crystal Palace during the 2021/22 season. He completed only three passes and had one shot at goal during this time.

Indeed, what was so damning about his display was that he was replaced by midfielder Conor Gallagher – despite Chelsea trailing 1-0 at the time.

The centre-forward position, of course, has been one that Chelsea have long struggled to fill. It had been hoped that Lukaku was the answer last season, but he quickly grew unhappy on his return to Stamford Bridge.

Aubameyang vs Premier League strikers

Ronaldo rejected

Ronaldo, meanwhile, was tantalisingly available in the summer. The 37-year-old may be enduring the worst season of his career at Man Utd, but he would surely have offered more than Aubameyang has managed at Chelsea.

The Man Utd star’s issues have been partially self-inflicted due to his absence from pre-season training and his touchline strops. At a different club with a fresh start, his motivation levels would have been higher and his attitude better.

Certainly, there can be few who believe he’d have just three goals at this stage of the season had he moved to Chelsea – and he could scarcely do worse than Aubameyang in terms of his overall contribution.

Hindsight, of course, is 20-20, but Tuchel’s call not to sign Ronaldo might just have been the most important that Chelsea made this summer.