William Gallas feels Chelsea should have signed Cristiano Ronaldo in 2022
William Gallas has expressed his belief that Chelsea missed out on a significant opportunity to sign Cristiano Ronaldo when Manchester United terminated his contract due to strained relations with the board and manager.
Ronaldo’s return to the Premier League with Manchester United in 2021 was initially hailed as a major coup. However, tensions between the player and the club escalated following a candid interview with Piers Morgan, during which Ronaldo criticized the club’s board and manager, Erik ten Hag.
Following the termination of his contract at Manchester United, Ronaldo was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea. However, Thomas Tuchel, who was managing the Blues at the time, reportedly opposed the signing of the 39-year-old striker.
Ronaldo later ended up joining Saudi Arabian Premier League club Al-Nassr and is enjoying a prolific season with 22 goals in the Saudi league. And now Gallas feels the Blues made a big mistake by not signing the prolific goal scorer. Speaking to Genting Casino, he said via Metro:
‘’Chelsea made a mistake by not signing Cristiano Ronaldo. He was available to sign, and Chelsea would have been a good club for him.’’
Signing Ronaldo would indeed have presented both advantages and challenges for Tuchel and Chelsea. On the positive side, Ronaldo’s exceptional link-up play, imposing presence in the box, and prolific goal-scoring ability could have significantly bolstered Chelsea’s attacking prowess.
However, accommodating his playing style within Tuchel’s system would have required adjustments. In the modern game, managers typically demand high levels of pressing and defensive work rate from all players, which may have posed challenges for Ronaldo, particularly given his age and stage of his career.
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Ultimately, while Ronaldo’s talent and experience could have brought benefits to Chelsea, the potential need for tactical adaptations and considerations of his suitability within the team’s overall dynamic would have influenced Tuchel’s decision-making process regarding his signing.
Ronaldo’s immediate impact upon his return to Manchester United, evidenced by his impressive tally of 18 goals in the Premier League, highlights his enduring proficiency in front of goal. However, the decision to forego his signing by Chelsea likely stemmed from a variety of factors, including considerations of the team’s existing dynamics, tactical requirements, and long-term strategic objectives.