How Chelsea could line up with Cristiano Ronaldo

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 15 Dec 2022 10:00 GMT
• 3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo could yet end up at Chelsea following his release by Manchester United. How would the Blues line up with the Portuguese in their ranks?

Ronaldo is the most eligible free agent in world football, even at 37 and having fallen out badly with his previous club Man Utd on the eve of the World Cup.

Ronaldo slammed manager Erik ten Hag and the Glazer family ownership in an unsanctioned interview with Pier Morgan before he and the Red Devils inevitably parted ways.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Real Madrid

He has since been linked with a big-money move to Saudi Arabia, but Chelsea reportedly retain an interest with Ronaldo's potential signing having been a point of contention between owner Todd Boehly and manager Thomas Tuchel in the summer - and the latter has now gone.

Chelsea XI with Ronaldo?

Ronaldo would almost certainly lead the line in a 3-4-2-1 in what has emerged as Potter's primary formation of choice at Stamford Bridge.

Each of Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Armando Broja and even Raheem Sterling has been tried there - a mixture of players either out of form or out of position - and the eventual return of Romelu Lukaku from his loan with Inter Milan won't exactly excite the Blues faithful after his abject second spell at the club last season.

READ: Ranking Chelsea's transfer options after devastating Broja injury

Potter used a physical presence in attack at Brighton in Danny Welbeck, and Ronaldo can expect to lead the line. With Mason Mount and Sterling for company in the final third, there is plenty of running to happen round about him, compensating for his pressing, or lack thereof.

Further back, things should be about to get more settled for Potter, who lost four consecutive games in all competitions before the winter break, with a number of key players set to return from injury.

Wing-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell missed the World Cup with England, but both are expected back in the new year, and the prospect of them sending crosses into the box for Ronaldo is one the Portuguese will be excited about.

Behind them, Chelsea spent more than €80 million on Wesley Fofana last summer, but a knee problem has restricted him to just two Premier League starts. He is also on the comeback trail, however.