Ronaldo faces familiar Chelsea transfer problem ahead of January window

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:46 CDT
• 3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo may have been linked with a potential January transfer to Chelsea from Manchester United. Still, there are several hurdles to overcome before the possibility of a deal is realistic.

Chelsea owner Todd Boehly was interested in signing the Portugal international during the summer or the Stamford Bridge side. It was a deal, however, that was knocked back by then-manager Thomas Tuchel.

Although the German has been sacked, his concerns over having Ronaldo in the squad are shared by Graham Potter, and that could be decisive in blocking a January deal.

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Chelsea's Ronaldo move driven by Boehly

Boehly wants Chelsea to sign Ronaldo as much because of his brand appeal as his qualities on the football field, according to CBS Sports’ Ben Jacobs. It was for this reason that he chased him so regularly in the summer, badgering Tuchel into trying to agree to a deal.

Jacobs reports that there has been no concrete action between Ronaldo’s camp and Chelsea over the intervening period, and the player is no considered to be a priority in the forthcoming transfer period. Instead, the Blues will focus on the midfield.

A move for Ronaldo, however, remains possible if Potter agrees to a deal.

That looks unlikely, with the former Brighton boss looking at other younger centre-forwards.

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Ronaldo's camp optimistic

The Ronaldo camp, meanwhile, retain hope that a deal could be done. Agent Jorge Mendes believes that this will require Boehly to stay on in a sporting director capacity until at least January and to exert more personal influence in the club's transfer business.

Again, this looks improbable. The Chelsea owner has repeatedly underlined that he wants full buy-in from Potter over any transfers, and even on a loan or free basis, this looks a distant prospect.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, also needs to be convinced of Potter’s desire to have him in the squad, else he could find himself in the same position at Chelsea as he does at Man Utd, whereby he spends more time on the bench than playing.