(Image): Cristiano Ronaldo fuels Chelsea transfer rumours after what he did at Old Trafford
Cristiano Ronaldo, a striker for Manchester United, appeared to leave Sunday morning’s 1-1 draw between his team and Rayo Vallecano. The attacker played 45 minutes for the Red Devils in the preseason friendly, marking his comeback to the field.
However, The 37-year-old is playing in his first game since being sidelined due to concerns about his future at Old Trafford. As he seeks to maximize his final years as a professional football player, this has led to ties with a move away from the club.
Chelsea is one of the teams that has been linked to a shocking transfer, with owner Todd Boehly meeting with agent Jorge Mendes over the summer. One month remains in the transfer window, and Ronaldo is still stuck at United due to the lack of a deal at this point.
United manager Erik ten Hag has reiterated the striker is not for sale in the current transfer window despite his unclear future, previously stating: “Only Cristiano Ronaldo is the subject of our season-long strategy. I’m eager to collaborate with him. Although I’ve read that Cristiano wants to go, I want to clarify that he is not for sale and that we are all working toward success together.”
Nevertheless, it looks that even if he returned to the team for preseason play, he might still be dissatisfied with things there. Ronaldo was substituted in at halftime, and a fan’s photo obtained by the Manchester Evening News looked to show him exiting the match early.
Most players stay for the duration of the game, but his early departure could be a sign of his dedication to the cause. or lack thereof. Although it is unclear whether a move to Chelsea is in the works, the saga is expected to continue until the transfer deadline.
However, as you can see here, Cristiano Ronaldo is clear that he wants to leave Old Trafford and that Chelsea is his most likely preferred destination—but only if Thomas Tuchel allows the transfer.
Cristiano Ronaldo seemingly left Old Trafford before the full-time whistle #mulive [@CantonaManc] pic.twitter.com/7I1H0pk0w5
— utdreport (@utdreport) July 31, 2022