Chelsea and Arsenal have responded to an offer that could see them sign Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo, according to reports. The Portugal international has struggled for game time this season at Old Trafford, often being used as an option from the bench under Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo continues to be linked with a move away from the club as a result, with a potential move on the cards for January with his contract expiring next summer. The forward has come under fire as of late, leaving the ground before the end of his side's win against Tottenham.
He was subsequently axed from the squad to face Chelsea, with a club statement reading: "Cristiano will not be part of the Manchester United squad for this Saturday's game against Chelsea. The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that fixture."
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Ten Hag has since insisted that Ronaldo is an important part of the squad and that there will be no move for a striker in the January window. However, the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal continue to be linked with a move for the 37-year-old, who is still searching for glory in the twilight of his career.
The Blues were discussed as a potential destination when new part-owner and interim sporting director Todd Boehly held talks with Jorge Mendes over a possible deal. That didn't come to fruition in the summer, though the signing of a new striker did take place before the deadline.
As for the Gunners, they also signed a new forward early in the window with Gabriel Jesus, with their new transfer strategy centring around signing younger players. It means both may be unlikely to make a move for Ronaldo in January after being sounded out over the possibility.
That's according to the Sun, who report that both London clubs have turned down the option to take on the striker, with a potential move to Napoli on the cards. It remains to be seen how the saga pans out, with plenty of twists and turns still in the pipeline.
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