The summer transfer window is open and a club as prominent as Chelsea is certain to attract some of the biggest names on the planet. In recent days, names of various players have been mentioned in connection with the London club as coach Thomas Tuchel seeks to rebuild his squad.
No name in world football gets bigger than the trio of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar jnr. Of the three biggest footballing stars, two have reportedly been offered to new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly. Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo are two prominent stars rumored to be open to the idea of changing clubs and both have been offered to the blues. On the path of Neymar, the PSG star is said to be on the transfer list of the French giants with Mbappe spearheading the new project.
For Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese star has informed the hierarchy at Manchester United of his desire to leave the club citing a lack of signings as his main reason of wanting a new challenge. Last week, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly met up with super agent Jorge Mendes who also represents Cristiano Ronaldo and the Global star was also a topic discussed in the meeting.
Here we examine the pros and cons of having either one or both of the biggest superstars in the footballing world.
Neymar :
The Brazilian superstar is a player Tuchel knows quite well after over-seeing two of the winger’s most productive years so far. Under Thomas Tuchel, Neymar enjoyed immense success playing as an inside forward in Tuchel’s favored 4-2-2-2 system at the Parc des Princes. The former Barcelona winger thrived playing alongside Mbappe up top and dazzled fans and opposing defenders with his tricky and fancy style of play.
Imagining Neymar in this present Chelsea squad is a sight to behold considering the sort of flair and razzmatazz the 30 year old comes with.
Neymar playing in the premier league while donning the blue shirt of Chelsea is sure to attract extra fans from worldwide who devotedly support the Brazilian talisman. Neymar as a player is every coaches’ dream with very few players boasting the same pedigree and natural ability of the former Barcelona man.
With his immense quality undoubted, there has been various reports of Neymar’s unsettling demeanor in the dressing room.
Chelsea’s coach Thomas Tuchel was once quoted saying “At PSG, I had to act like a politician because I didn’t only manage the players, but also their friends and family”. Neymar’s presence in the present Chelsea squad is certain to divide opinion considering the high wages he’s sure to command and his influence on the pattern of play is another cause of worry.
Neymar is not known to be a hard worker and considering Tuchel’s philosophy of working as a team when attacking and defending, having Neymar on the pitch and asking him to help defend might be asking too much from the Santos graduate. His attacking output preponderates his defensive output with goals and assists a certainty and fans entertainment is sure to be top of the pile with the Brazilian on show.
If Neymar does move to the Bridge, he’s sure to play on the left of Tuchel’s preferred attacking triangle as an “10” and his profile of being a deadly player in (1 V 1 )and (1V 2) situations is exactly what Tuchel needs from his inside forwards who also act as wingers when in the attacking third.
Neymar is a global star and at the age of 30, still has 3-4 years at the very top of his game.
Cristiano Ronaldo :
Arguably the best player to ever play the round leather game, Cristiano Dos Santos Aveiro Ronaldo is as big a name that could ever be in modern football. One of his gargantuan stature and pedigree doesn’t get linked to your club on a regular basis. The Portuguese boasts of 5 ballon d’or trophies amongst an incredibly endowed trophy cabinet and other laurels.
The Manchester United and Madrid legendary icon is touted as a possible signing for Chelsea “if” approved by coach Thomas Tuchel. At the advance age of 37, it is no surprise the man from Madeira seeks to ply his final years at the top challenging for the biggest trophies and playing for the best teams. Ronaldo as a whole package doesn’t have much competition with only his fierce rival, Messi able to boast of similar numbers in goals scored and achievements on and off the pitch with various awards shared amongst them two.
Ronaldo boasts of the record number of social media follows for a footballer and that alone doesn’t showcase how gigantic a fan base he’s got. From tours round the biggest football clubs in the world; Sporting, United, Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo has established himself as the very best there is world football.
His return to England last summer to play for Manchester United hasn’t gone as planned with the Old Trafford outfit finishing 6th and missing out on Champions league football. That terrible United’s season meant the legendary Portuguese went a season trophy-less for the first time in over 10 years.
This season, the former Sporting man is said to be uncertain of United’s capacity to challenge for silverware once more, informing his decision to seek a new challenge and opt out of Old Trafford.
Ronaldo moving to Chelsea doesn’t get better for Chelsea faithfuls as snapping the Portuguese up means getting one of the world’s most feared attackers as well as getting one off their rivals United. If the deal does happen, Ronaldo joining Tuchel’s blues would mean Chelsea’s goal scoring bane comes to an end with a proven goal scorer amongst her ranks.
As attractive as the deal to bring the former Madrid man to Stamford Bridge is, Ronaldo joining Chelsea would ensure a spurge in Jersey sales and on all commercial fronts. Brands and sponsors would jump on the chance to tap into Ronaldo’s wide reach and audience while Chelsea benefits from having the plan in their ranks.
A predator in and around the box, Ronaldo does boast of the killer instincts to put chances away something that has been evidently missing from Chelsea’s game in recent years. As customary as it is of every positive side, there’s always a negative.
At the age of 37, Ronaldo does not possess the legs to press, and run around at great intensity while hunting for the ball. The Portuguese spearheading the attack means Tuchel losses a key component in the defensive phase as the 37 year old would barely be aggressive off the ball while teams play out from the back but with his experience and ability to create space for himself, the 37 year old remains a very good option to have in the attacking phase.
The timing of his runs, the movement in close spaces and his clinical finishing are of the highest standards and Tuchel surely would seek to tap into that. Moreover, just like other A+ plus stars, Ronaldo comes with some level of ego.
The record goal scorer for Real Madrid is rumored to often select a group of friends amongst the whole squad and that causes some sort of division in the camp. With Reece James and Chilwell delivering the sort of balls that strikers thrive on, the Superstar from Madeira is sure to put many of such chances away while boosting his personal record of goals and helping Chelsea win even more silverware.
Writer’s Opinion on preferred Option :
After highlighting the pros and cons of both players, age, prospective impact, current form and adaptability to the team structure, my pick for a statement signing and talisman is
Neymar. Whether we are able to get the Brazilian remains to be seen but the idea of getting the PSG’s number 10 remains a pull too attractive
to ignore for a 37 year old who certainly isn’t a bad option.
Either way, Neymar gets the nod from me and with Brazilians impressive record at Chelsea so far, I’d be eager to see what one of Brazil’s finest has to offer to the blues.
