Man United icon Cristiano Ronaldo has not shown up to the first day of his scheduled pre-season return at Carrington amid Chelsea transfer speculation.
Reports surfaced over the weekend stating that the 37-year-old had asked the Red Devils to release him from his short-term contract if a suitable offer was to be presented their way this summer. CR7's love for the club where it all started for him reportedly remains intact but his Champions League status is one of the main reasons why super agent Jorge Mendes has tried to seek out potential suitors within the Premier League and across the European landscape.
It had already been revealed that new owner Todd Boehly had met up with Mendes in Portugal not to only talk about the six-time Ballon d'Or winner but also a few of his clients as the part-LA Dodgers owner tries his best as interim sporting director to provide manager Thomas Tuchel with his ideal £200million squad rebuild. United's response to finding out about this situation was on the angry side of the scale and sources at the club have insisted that their talismanic figure who ended up as top scorer in last season's Premier League will be going nowhere.
READ MORE: Neymar's previous Cristiano Ronaldo verdict hands Chelsea owner Todd Boehly £95m PSG warning
If Erik ten Hag's side were to stick to their word, this would mean that this would be the first time in 20 seasons whereby the serial Champions League winner will not be competing at Europe's top table.
That perhaps still gives the Blues some hope that they can pull off this unexpected Premier League swoop after their latest Ousmane Dembélé and Raphinha blows has forced Boehly to reconsider options in the transfer market.
Amid the speculation to a Man United exit, whether that be to the 'favourites' Chelsea or elsewhere outside of England, talk of a switch down south will only intensify with what has happened on the first scheduled day of CR7's pre-season return.
The Manchester Evening News have reported that United's iconic number 7 was absent from Carrington at the start of this new week due to 'family reasons.' Whether this eventually transpires into him signing in SW6 before September 1 remains to be seen but ten Hag's eagerness to keep him in the early part of his rebuild days at Old Trafford has made Ronaldo to Chelsea a no-go as it stands.
Chelsea fans - if you could only sign one of Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, who would you pick and why? Leave your thoughts down below in the comments section!
West Ham answer £60m Chelsea transfer question as Thomas Tuchel plots clever Declan Rice swoop
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest updates and rumours from Stamford Bridge
Full Chelsea Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
Ousmane Dembele's new Barcelona contract could mean more Chelsea suffering after Raphinha misery
Juventus deliver response to latest Matthijs de Ligt Chelsea offer as Jules Kounde hope restored
