Chelsea thought they may have seen the last of Cristiano Ronaldo, though it may appear not with intensifying transfer talk that could yet set up a FIFA Club World Cup date.
With the Blues not on the list of superstar clubs Ronaldo has turned out for across his 23-year career, instead the 40-year-old has dealt damage in the form of two goals and two assists whilst playing for rivals Manchester United.
Of those goals, in Moscow in 2008, was critical in Chelsea falling to defeat in that year’s all-English Champions League final.
So when the Portuguese international – football’s all-time record goalscorer – completed a move to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr, they may have thought good riddance.
The problem is Ronaldo is now the centre of brewing transfer talk focusing on the upcoming Club World Cup, a tournament Enzo Maresca’s side are vying to win next month.
Last week, FIFA president Gianni Infantino claimed that ‘discussions’ are ongoing for Ronaldo to feature at the United States event this summer – one that Al-Nassr have not actually qualified for.
Speaking to YouTuber and streamer IShowSpeed on Friday, the FIFA chief revealed: “Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well at the Club World Cup. There are discussions…”
He added: “Yeah. Cristiano Ronaldo might play in the Club World Cup, yeah. There are discussions with some clubs.
“So if any club is watching and is interested in hiring Ronaldo for the Club World Cup… who knows, who knows.”
Then fanning the flames, Ronaldo himself has since made his own message that some believe implies his days at Al-Nassr are coming to an end.
“This chapter is over,” he said on Instagram. “The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.”
The Club World Cup is due to begin on June 15 with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami taking part in the opening match.
Before it takes place, FIFA have ratified an additional period between June 1 and 10 to allow partaking clubs to conduct business in time for the tournament. If Ronaldo is moving, it would have to be then.
His signing to Chelsea does not fit the club’s current theme of targeting young, talented players since the new ownership took hold in 2022.
Even if they are amongst the elite who would be more likely to meet whatever wage demands he has, a meeting with Ronaldo would all-but-certainly have to be on the field of play.
Maresca’s men are to face Esperance Sportive de Tunis, Flamengo and Club Leon in the initial group stage.
If they progress to the knockout phase’s round of 16 they can be paired with European rivals Bayern Munich or Benfica, South Americans Boca Juniors or New Zealand’s Auckland City.
From there, the picture will only grow clearer closer to the time as the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain all squabble over the £92.2 million prize pot.
