Chelsea have been handed a ground-breaking update on the future of Cristiano Ronaldo. The 37-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge on a number of occasions this season as Todd Boehly looks to bolster the club's frontline.
Following an eye-opening interview with Pier Morgan, the striker now faces an increasingly uncertain future at Manchester United as his relationship with head coach Erik ten Hag seemingly hangs by a thread. The Red Devils are said to be 'furious' after being caught by surprise with Ronaldo's TV interview, and the five-time Ballon d'Or winner claiming that he felt betrayed by the club.
According to the Mirror, United are seeking legal advice and the Portugal international could be sacked if his behaviour is judged to be 'a serious enough breach of discipline'. The Portugal captain could even be offloaded before the January transfer window opens.
READ MORE: Todd Boehly's decisive Graham Potter call forces Chelsea fans to face unwelcome reality
Before pressing forward with the next step, it's said that United want to watch the full interview, which will be aired in two parts on Wednesday and Thursday. The Mirror add that 'high-level discussions' are underway between CEO Richard Arnold, director of football John Murtough and Ten Hag.
The report continues by outlining that United 'reject' Ronaldo’s criticisms of the club and are in full support of the head coach. It looks growingly unlikely that the striker stays at Old Trafford beyond January which could come as a huge boost for Boehly.
United have released their own statement on the matter, saying only: "Manchester United notes the media coverage regarding an interview by Cristiano Ronaldo. The club will consider its response after the full facts have been established.
"Our focus remains on preparing for the second half of the season and continuing the momentum, belief and togetherness being built among the players, manager, staff, and fans."
football.london understand that Chelsea sounded out a move for Ronaldo in July. The Athletic reported that the American billionaire met with the striker's agent Jorge Mendes in the summer to discuss a number of topics, and one of the several topics discussed in this encounter.
According to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel was a 'roadblock' in negotiations and a deal collapsed. It's said that the German refused to hold serious discussions with Boehly over signing the striker.
Graham Potter's stance on Ronaldo remains to be seen and the 47-year-old has always remained coy on the subject. Speaking ahead of the Chelsea's home clash with AC Milan in the Champions League, 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."
If Ronaldo was to be sacked then Boehly has a number of pros and cons to consider first. While signing a player of the veteran's stature for free could be good marketing reasons, his recent on-field performances suggest a downturn on last year's levels.
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