Chelsea to 'reignite interest' in Cristiano Ronaldo

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 4 May 2023 09:53 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea have been tipped to make a move for Cristiano Ronaldo this summer with reports emerging that he is unhappy with life in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo was linked with a move to Chelsea last year when his second Manchester United stint was beginning to unravel.

Six months before Ronaldo slammed United in an unsanctioned interview with Piers Morgan, he had failed to show for pre-season training, with then-agent Jorge Mendes trying to secure a transfer to a Champions League club.

READ: Ronaldo already fed up at Al Nassr and wants to QUIT

Concrete offers were thinner on the ground than Ronaldo might have hoped, but Chelsea were credited with an interest. New owner Todd Boehly wanted the Portuguese as a marquee signing, but Thomas Tuchel blocked the idea before being sacked as manager in September.

Instead, Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia, with Al-Nassr making him the highest paid player in the world on €200 million a year. But the nation's strict social laws as well as the league's global standing have reportedly left Ronaldo already questioning his future there.

'Chelsea could reignite their interest'

"Whilst Ronaldo's next destination remains unclear, Chelsea could reignite their interest in the striker," report Football London. "Todd Boehly was keen on signing him in the summer… before flirting with the idea again following his Man United exit.

"Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is… likely to demand a forward to lead the line."

READ: Todd Boehly defends abysmal Chelsea record

Whilst the report goes on to stat that Ronaldo might not be 'perfect' for the Chelsea project, they are one of the few teams in world football who could match his salary expectations, and they do have a goalscoring problem.

Kai Havertz has led the line for much of this season - under three different managers in Tuchel, Graham Potter and now Frank Lampard - but he is a converted midfielder and only has seven Premier League goals to his name this season.

Recognised No.9s Romelu Lukaku and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are on the books, but the former wants to make his loan return to Inter Milan permanent, while the latter is determined to re-join Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Chelsea will also need to balance their books to fund such a deal, with the shadow of Financial Fair Play looming after Boehly's £600m spend on players since taking over last May.