Cristiano Ronaldo has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in the last year or so and the striker proved to Graham Potter why a deal could be worth a punt
Cristiano Ronaldo proved to potential suitors what he can bring to the table in Portugal’s 2-0 win over Uruguay in the World Cup group stage. Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes scored twice to book ‘Seleção das Quinas’ a place in the round of 16.
The 37-year-old striker, controversially, claimed his former teammate’s goal after a delicately lofted cross in the second-half was delivered into the box. Ronaldo thought he had netted his second of the tournament after supposedly scoring a glancing header but there was little to no contact.
Fernandes’ cross looped beyond the goalkeeper and the goal was awarded to the midfielder. Despite the five-time Ballon d’Or winner failing to add to his tally, Ronaldo was a key component in Portugal’s victory as he dropped deep to combine play and made incisive runs in behind.
Fernandes was initially convinced that Ronaldo had made contact with his header following the striker’s celebrations. The 28-year-old said: “I celebrated as if it had been Cristiano’s goal.
“It seemed to me that he had touched the ball. My aim was to cross the ball for him. We are happy with the victory regardless of who scored. The most important thing is that we achieved our aim which is to be in the next round.”
With Graham Potter said to be in the market for a new striker in the January transfer window, the Portuguese star staked a valiant claim as to why Chelsea should secure his services. Ronaldo is a free agent after United confirmed last week that he would leave the club with immediate effect, meaning the Blues can sign the talisman for free.
Todd Boehly tried to sign the striker in the summer before Thomas Tuchel stood in his way. According to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, the German was a primary ‘roadblock’ in negotiations and the former Chelsea boss even refused to hold serious discussions.
With Tuchel out of the picture now, the report states that Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes will offer his client to the west Londoners, but a move is ‘complicated. It remains to be seen whether Potter is interested in signing the striker with the Blues boss keeping his cards close to his chest.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s home clash with AC Milan in the Champions League, the 47-year-old didn’t rule anything out. He said: “We can spend all day with these questions, but I’m not going to speak about this. If they are not our players, I am not going to speak to them.”