Chelsea have decided against signing Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo, after talks between manager Thomas Tuchel and co-owner Todd Boehly.
The Blues were thought to be interested in the player who recently made known his desire to leave Old Trafford. But according to news reports, plans to bring the Portuguese to Stamford Bridge this summer have been shelved after the first team coach and new Blues co-owner analysed the situation.
According to reports, the American man who was part of a group which took over the Premier League club in May raised the prospect of bringing Ronaldo to London following a meeting with the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, in Portugal.
But Sportsmail now reports that a decision was made not to pursue the 37-year-old because head coach Tuchel wants to focus on the team rather than the individuals. The German believes that Raheem Sterling, who he signed from Manchester City for £47.5m on Wednesday, better fits the bill of the kind of player they want this summer.
The former Liverpool attacker who became Chelsea’s first signing of the transfer window was always Tuchel’s priority signing of the summer.
Chelsea viewed him as a marquee signing and dressing room leader even though the rumours of Ronaldo’s signing have stolen the shine off his arrival.
While Chelsea seems to have moved on from him, the 37-year-old’s future remains in doubt. Although his club have come out to say that they do not intend to sell him this summer, he remains in limbo.
The Portuguese has not joined up with his teammates on their pre-season tour so far, although he was seen training privately in the club’s kit.
Meanwhile, it is understood that French giants Paris Saint-Germain also rejected the chance to move for the forward, who appear to have limited options at 37 years. Reports have claimed that a club in Saudi Arabia is offering to pay him £105m a year.
