Cristiano Ronaldo to Chelsea transfer: Decision claim, Real Madrid twist, Todd Boehly boost

Cristiano Ronaldo has been heavily linked with some of the world’s richest clubs following his exit from Manchester United.

The 37-year-old striker is now a free agent after the Red Devils confirmed that he has left the club with immediate effect. Ronaldo had already been heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford on a number of occasions this season but a revealing TV interview with Piers Morgan was the final straw.

United were said to be ‘furious’ after the TV attack of the club caught them by surprise, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner claiming that he felt betrayed.

United sought legal advice and the Portuguese star was subsequently allowed to leave the club. With Ronaldo on the market and readily available to sign, a host of clubs are said to be monitoring the situation.

With that in mind, football.london takes a look at all the latest news regarding Ronaldo’s situation.

Al Nassr ‘decision’ claim

The president of Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr is said to have spoken out on rumours surrounding a potential move for Cristiano Ronaldo. Speaking to SSC Sports, via Fabrizio Romano, he said: “Cristiano was busy recently with the World Cup and I didn’t expect him to negotiate with anyone.

“We will not speak about other players, I wish the best to Cristiano with any decision.”

Real Madrid training

Cristiano Ronaldo has been spotted training with Real Madrid to keep himself fit while he ponders over his decision on the next club he will join. The 37-year-old is said to have a great relationship with Los Blancos after his stint with the Spanish giants, however a deal there seems unlikely.

Silence broken

Amid links with a move to Saudi club Al Nassr, their head coach Rudi Garcia has broken his silence on the possibility in an interview with AS. He said: “I think that any coach would be delighted to train a great star like Cristiano and already in November 2021 I was very close to going to United… I have always thought that the great players are the easiest to manage because they are very intelligent, I verified this with Francesco Totti at Roma.”

Portugal statement

Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped by Portugal in their last-16 tie with Switzerland and reports since suggested that the 37-year-old was eyeing an early release from the squad. However, a statement from the player suggest otherwise, stating: “This group is too united to be broken by external forces. A nation too brave to be intimidated by any adversary. This is a true team, that will fight for the dream until the end.”

The national team statement backed this up, adding: “Reports claiming Cristiano Ronaldo threatened to leave the national team during a conversation with Fernando Santos are not true — FPF clarifies that at no time did Cristiano threaten to leave the national team in Qatar.”

Ronaldo comments on Al-Nassr proposal

After reports circulated that Ronaldo was set to join Al-Nassr, he has confirmed that the claims suggesting he will sign for the Saudi Arabian club are “not true”. Ronaldo was said to have been offered a £173million offer from Saudi Arabian football club Al-Nassr, but he does not appear to be keen on leaving Europe.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos left Ronaldo on the bench for his country’s 6-1 World Cup last-16 victory against Switzerland, and he was then asked about a potential move to the Middle East with Al-Nassr after the game but offered a very simple response, saying: “No that’s not true – not true.”

Ronaldo dropped

For the second time in a month Ronaldo found himself outcasted after Fernando Santos chose to drop him from Portugal’s World Cup starting XI. The 37-year-old was punished for his reaction after being taken off in the final group game against South Korea, and had to watch on from the bench.

The Euro 2016 champions didn’t miss him though, relying on 21-year-old Goncalo Ramos, who scored a hat-trick in a dominant 6-1 win.

Ronaldo did come off the bench in the second half and regained his captain’s armband, but he might face a challenge to get back into the team for the quarter finals.

Final Chelsea hope

While a move to Al Nassr appears close for Ronaldo, it isn’t completely over the line yet and could give Chelsea some hope in making a last minute move for the striker. That’s because Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claims there is no agreement between the 37-year-old and the Saudi Arabian side.

Al Nassr are still pushing for his signature, but with Ronaldo waiting until the end of the World Cup to make a decision, the Blues could still make one final attempt to sign him.

New club ‘confirmed’

There has been little in the way of movement surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo’s new club in the past week as the 37-year-old concentrates on the World Cup with Portugal. However, reports from Marca claim that the striker will play for Saudi outfit Al Nassr as of the new year.

It may come as a huge blow to the Blues, who have been linked with the former Manchester United man as an option to solve their goal-scoring issues.

Ronaldo agrees record-breaking contract with Saudi outfit

As per Marca, via the Daily Mail, Ronaldo has reportedly agreed a record-breaking £172.9million-a-year contract with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The move will see him play until he’s 40.

Al-Nassr are one of the most successful clubs in Saudi Arabia, having being crowned winners of the country’s top flight nine times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2019.

However, the report adds that sources close to the former Real Madrid superstar insist no deal has been signed and that Ronaldo remains focused on the World Cup with his country.

Ronaldo leaves Man Utd

On Tuesday, November 22, United confirmed that Ronaldo would leave the club with immediate effect. A statement from the Red Devils read: “Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect. The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford.”

Response to leaving Old Trafford

Ronaldo himself has released a statement, confirming the time is right to seek a new challenge. He said: “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early.

“I love Manchester United. And I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.”

Huge deterrent

Ronaldo has been heavily fined and handed a two-match ban by the Football Association for knocking a fan’s mobile phone to the ground. He was making his way towards the tunnel at Goodison Park when the altercation occurred following the Red Devils’ 1-0 defeat to Everton back in April.

The suspension means that Ronaldo is banned for two games should he join a Premier League club. If he is to join the Blues, then he would miss clashes against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest before becoming available to face Manchester City.

The veteran striker was charged with ‘improper and/or violent’ conduct by the FA following the incident in Merseyside last April. An FA statement said: “Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for two matches, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for a breach of FA Rule E3.

“The forward admitted that his conduct after the final whistle of the Premier League game between Manchester United FC and Everton FC on Saturday 9 April 2022 was improper. An independent Regulatory Commission found that his conduct was both improper and violent during a subsequent hearing, and imposed these sanctions.”

Agent prepares talks

According to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes will offer his client to the Blues, but a move ‘remains complicated’. The report confirms that Tuchel was a primary ‘roadblock’ in negotiations last summer, with the German refusing to hold serious discussions over signing the striker.

Bayern Munich confusion

According to the Daily Mail, Ronaldo and his agent Mendes met officials from Bayern Munich in the first week of November. German outlet BILD have claimed otherwise, stating that a meeting did not take place and the German giants are not, in fact, interested in the Portuguese veteran.

Potter has already given Ronaldo verdict

Ronaldo left Old Trafford early after ten Hag refused to bring him on against Tottenham Hotspur last month, something Chelsea boss Graham Potter was later asked about in a press conference of his own.

“Well, I can’t really comment because I don’t know the ins and outs,” he said. “But he’s [ten Hag] taken his stance. Sometimes you have to do that. And then you need the club’s support, and from the outside, that’s what has happened.

“Well, it’s difficult for me to comment because I don’t know the actual context, I don’t know what’s really happened, I don’t want to go off headlines and things like that. Part of the job is to take some decisions that are difficult, but that’s normal.”

Ronaldo sounds out move

football.london understand that Chelsea sounded out a move for Ronaldo in July. The Athleticreported that Boehly met with the striker’s agent Jorge Mendes in the summer to discuss a number of topics. However, Tuchel was a roadblock in negotiations, and the deal eventually collapsed.

Boehly interest

Boehly met super agent Mendes in the summer to discuss a potential move for Ronaldo, according to The Athletic. A deal failed to materialise and the west Londoners signed Raheem Sterling instead