The German boss has come up against the Portuguese forward on many occasions in his managerial career when at Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea...CONTINUE READING
MADRID, SPAIN – DECEMBER 07: Head coach Thomas Tuchel of Borussia Dortmund together with Christiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF after the final whistle during the UEFA Champions League: First Qualifying Round 2nd Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 07, 2016 in Madrid, Spain.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has already labelled Man United’s Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘one of the greatest’ players of all time amid shock transfer talks between new owner Todd Boehly and Jorge Mendes.
United’s talismanic figure is reportedly considering his future ahead of 2022/23 amid speculation that the Portuguese is growing uneasy with the lack of business done so far at Man United in this summer’s transfer window.
The Red Devils are reportedly closing in on Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong but the time spent negotiating over a fee has potentially jeopardised Erik ten Hag’s chances of landing a certain Ajax trio.
Consequently, as well as the fans who are growing uneasy with the situation at Old Trafford which has been amplified with the Glazers taking another £11million out of the club this weekend in dividends, it seems as though Ronaldo shares those exact feelings.
It is already common knowledge that his super-agent Mendes had already offered his client out to Bayern Munich but Julian Nagelsmann’s side turned this opportunity down having already signed Liverpool’s Sadio Mane this summer.
Seemingly, he has now turned towards Chelsea and a key meeting held with the new owners in SW6 has seemingly given the Blues the initiative to consider what The Telegraph are labelling a ‘highly unlikely’ transfer at this point.
According to The Athletic, they have reported that new owner Boehly met with Ronaldo’s agent Mendes in Portugal last week to discuss a number of topics. Ronaldo’s future was one of the things discussed in this encounter. Whether or not Chelsea make a move for the player in question remains to be seen.
It is understood that Man City’s Raheem Sterling is the main attacking priority being pursued at this current moment by Chelsea but when the prospect of Ronaldo comes on the table, that plan can easily change.
Multiple attackers are expected to be signed this summer to compensate for potential Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech exits amid AC Milan and Juventus talks but will the 37-year-old really be one of those brought in?
Well, the same report from the Telegraph had clarified that other Mendes clients were discussed between the pair meaning anything is possible at this point.
Remember, Mendes is the agent of Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix, AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Wolves’ Rayan Aït-Nouri. Regardless of who could be signed from the abundance of world-class talent that Mendes oversees on a day-to-day basis, how would Tuchel himself potentially feel about managing United’s iconic number 7?
Just like he said with Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar in the past, the German, who had to see Ronaldo score against his side in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last term, went on record to declare that he believes Ronaldo to be one of the ‘greatest’ players to have stepped foot on the football pitch.
“Time will tell, but I think it is not a secret that any team in the world without Cristiano [Ronaldo] is in some parts of the game a weaker team,” he was quoted saying in the past via The Daily Express. “He is one of the greatest who has ever played this game and he proves it every time he is on the field.
“Now [he is] in the Premier League and in the Champions League, so they lost a big champion, a big point of reference and a big personality. But you can win games and be a strong team without Cristiano Ronaldo. This is also true.”
