Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Man Utd warned of disastrous consequence if Cristiano Ronaldo joins Chelsea that could derail entire Ten Hag project

Cristiano-Ronaldo Erik ten Hag sub Liverpool August 2022

Tony Cascarino has warned Manchester United of a potential disastrous consequence that could arise from allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to join Chelsea.

There has been a lot of speculation over what the next step in Ronaldo’s career of late. Despite being 37 years of age, the striker is still able to find the net.

Indeed, he did so 24 times across all competitions last season – the most of any United player. However, as the Red Devils did not secure Champions League football, it was little surprise that Ronaldo wanted to jump ship.

Indeed, Ronaldo is the competition’s all-time top goalscorer, having found the net 140 times. The competition just does not feel the same without him in it.

However, United were not able to come to an agreement with anybody to take him on board after he handed in a transfer request. As such, he is playing the first season of his career not in Europe’s elite competition.

Game-time has been hard to come by for the Portuguese this season, though – he has started just six games so far.

He made it known he is not happy, in a big statement in United’s 2-0 Premier League win over Tottenham. He walked down the tunnel before the end of the game, and manager Erik ten Hag confirmed he refused to come on when asked.

Now, there have been links with a move away, Chelsea are the most heavily-linked side. They were also touted with a move in the summer, but nothing came of their apparent interest.

Cascarino warns United off Chelsea transfer

Former Chelsea man Cascarino has had his say regarding a potential Ronaldo move to Chelsea. Indeed, the pundit feels it is not a likely outcome, though if it were to happen, there could be an alarming consequence for the Red Devils.

“It’s an interesting one because I don’t think United will be prepared to let Ronaldo go. It could cost them Champions League football if they didn’t make the top-four and Ronaldo went to Chelsea,” he said on talkSPORT.

“I don’t see Manchester United wanting to do that, it would be cutting your nose to spite your face, it really would.

“If you let him go there and Chelsea finish above you, it would be a really bad look for United.”

If Ronaldo were to fire Chelsea to Champions League qualification at United’s expense for example, not only would it be a bad look, but it’d harm their transfer business moving forward.

The effect would be two-fold, with United both holding less of an appeal to transfer targets as well as having less money to spend. Given Ten Hag’s reign is still in tis infancy, he can well do without the club being hamstrung in the market.

United have coped well without Ronaldo’s influence for much of this season. Indeed, he has started just two Premier League games, and scored only once.

Despite that, United are currently sixth in the table, and only three points behind third. However, they are also behind Chelsea at present.

So while they might not miss Ronaldo all too much, they could aid a direct rival.

Ronaldo transfer may not fit Chelsea

Cascarino also feels that Ronaldo would not be the right fit for the Blues.

“I would be amazed if that happened, if Ronaldo ended up at Stamford Bridge,” he added.

“Chelsea need legs in the centre forward position, they need someone who’s a real, determined runner, who gets into positions and is quick.”

Chelsea already have a pacy striker in Aubameyang, as well as having Raheem Sterling to get in behind from the wing. As such, adding a deadly striker like Ronaldo into the mix could benefit them.

It certainly cannot be the worst thing to have one of the game’s greatest ever goalscorers in the side.