Chelsea have refused the chance to sign Cristiano Ronaldo this summer with the Portuguese superstar desperate to leave Manchester United.
Ronaldo returned to United last summer with the 37-year-old proving he can still compete at the top level, scoring 24 goals in all competitions. football.london understands the Blues were sounded out by Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes over a potential move for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, but Thomas Tuchel decided against a move when owner Todd Boehly approached the German manager with the opportunity.
Chelsea confirmed their first signing under Boehly's ownership after completing a £45million deal to sign Raheem Sterling from Manchester City. football.london understands the west Londoners are set to make Kalidou Koulibaly their second summer signing after agreeing a £33million fee with Napoli and are in talks to sign Presnel Kimpembe from Paris Saint-Germain.
READ MORE: Chelsea 'in talks' to sign Presnel Kimpembe as PSG's transfer stance revealed
Ronaldo revealed his intentions to leave Old Trafford this summer despite United standing firm insisting the 37-year-old is not for sale. TVI and CNN Portugal, as cited by The Mirror, have now reported that the Portuguese striker has been made a lucrative offer worth £105million a season to join an unnamed club in Saudi Arabia, who would be willing to pay United a transfer fee of £25million.
To put those figures into context, it would see Ronaldo earn £14,200 an hour, £341,000 per day, £2.4m every week and a whopping £10.4m per month. PSG’s trio of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar make up the top three highest earners currently, and this contract offer proposed to Ronaldo would see him earn more than all three of the combined.
The Portugal international is yet to return to pre-season training with United due to "family reasons", whilst his agent searches for potential suitors. United's lack of Champions League football is believed to be Ronaldo's main issue following his request to leave the club after just one season.
The superstar could take up an offer which would see him leave Europe for the first time in his unbelievable career and pocket an eye-watering £211m over two years in the Middle East. Napoli continue to be linked with a potential move for Ronaldo, whilst Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have ruled themselves out of the running.
Tuchel told SkySports that the Blues' priority in the transfer market is to strengthen the defence after losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. football.london understands that Chelsea are pursuing deals for Kimpembe and Nathan Ake, with Tuchel wanting a back-up option at right wing-back for England international Reece James as well.
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