Cristiano Ronaldo has a plan in place to leave Manchester United at the end of this season amid interest from Chelsea, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
The Portuguese forward was surrounded by summer speculation in the transfer window, with Todd Boehly pitching an ambitious plan to bring him to London. Although Ronaldo scored 18 goals for the Red Devils last season he was unable to grant them Champions League football.
At 37, Ronaldo is amongst the oldest players to play in the Premier League and is aware that he is out of Erik ten Hag's first team plans at Old Trafford, where he has only been a bit-part player so far this season after missing most of the pre-season preparations due to 'personal issues.'
READ MORE: Seven forgotten Chelsea stars Graham Potter must turn to amid Premier League fixture chaos
His next club may well have already been decided though and Boehly's Chelsea dream with Ronaldo up front could have ended with it as Ronaldo's mother, Dolores, confirmed that there is hope and plans in place for him to return to Portugal before retiring.
Speaking to Nova Genta, she said, "It (a return to Sporting) can happen, but not right now. This was not the year for it, but next year it might be. This year or next year this will happen, God willing! I have already explained to him: 'Son, before I die I want to see him in the Sporting shirt once again'."
Ronaldo left Sporting Lisbon in 2003 to join United before going on to break numerous goalscoring records with Real Madrid and Juventus ahead of rejoining United last season. His mum added, "If Ronaldo doesn't come, his son, Cristianinho, will come. That is his destiny. At his age, he is playing better than his father! Cristiano's successor is Cristianinho. He has already said he wanted to live in Lisbon and play for Sporting, if they both went – it would be my dream.
"If the wishes of a mother and grandmother are fulfilled, then one of her children will be joining Sporting very soon."
This would all but rule out any move to Chelsea. Even though he would realistically be available on a free deal when his contract expires next summer, his wages could prove to be a stumbling block to any deal.
Thomas Tuchel never appeared keen to bring him to Stamford Bridge and Graham Potter may well feel similarly as he plans for long-term progression at SW6.
"He has a strong desire to continue and to keep playing until he is 40," Dolores continued, which aligns with the striker's own words this month, where he stated: "I hope to continue being part of the Portuguese international setup for a few more years. I feel motivated, my ambition is high. I am in a team with young people, I want to be in the World Cup but also in the next European Championships."
They are in place for summer 2024, by that time Ronaldo's fit for Chelsea even more unlikely to work out for both parties. If there was a plan for him to play for Chelsea then it may well have already passed. After initial talks this summer with Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, Boehly came back to Chelsea with the idea, only to be vetoed by Tuchel.
READ NEXT:
Reece James picks out his best-ever Chelsea match and what needs to change under Graham Potter
Graham Potter receives major N'Golo Kante injury boost ahead of Crystal Palace vs Chelsea clash
AC Milan suffer fresh injury blow with six star players now set to miss Chelsea clash
Graham Potter slammed for shock Raheem Sterling use ahead of Crystal Palace vs Chelsea
