Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United could have taken a sharp turn towards Stamford Bridge in 2022, when Chelsea’s new ownership considered bringing the Portuguese forward across west London.
Boehly explored a marquee move
Todd Boehly had only recently taken charge at Chelsea when Ronaldo’s name emerged as a possible signing. United had finished sixth in the Premier League and the forward was enduring an unsettled period at Old Trafford, making a departure appear possible.
Boehly, who briefly also took on sporting director duties at Chelsea, held talks with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes. The prospect of landing one of the game’s biggest names appealed to the American owner as he began his first transfer window at the club.
- Ronaldo was in his second Manchester United stint, which ran from 2021 to 2023.
- Chelsea considered the deal during the summer of 2022.
- Boehly discussed the possibility with Jorge Mendes.
- The move was examined seriously as Chelsea looked to shape a new era under their incoming ownership.
Tuchel had the final say
The proposed transfer, however, did not get beyond the manager’s office. Thomas Tuchel, then Chelsea head coach and a Champions League winner with the club the previous year, was firmly against signing Ronaldo.
Tuchel made his opposition clear on more than one occasion, and his stance brought the discussions to an end. Although Boehly had explored the route to a deal, Chelsea did not pursue the Portuguese striker further.
A London move that never left the drawing board
Ronaldo remained at United after Chelsea stepped away. His return to Old Trafford ultimately ended in 2023, with the hoped-for second chapter failing to deliver a lasting revival.
He now plays for Al-Nassr, while Chelsea’s brief interest remains one of the more striking possibilities from Boehly’s first summer at the helm: a move considered by the owner, but stopped by the manager before it reached the fixture list.
