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‘We need him’ – Premier League legend urges ex-club to sign Cristiano Ronaldo
John Obi Mikel has urged Chelsea to make a stunning move for Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the Club World Cup. The football superstar is still yet to sign a new contract with Al Nassr, amid rumours he could join a side competing in the inaugural summer tournament, which kicks off on June 15. Ronaldo’s club future is currently up in the airGetty With his current deal up at the end of the month, Ronaldo himself has sparked rumours he could depart the Riyadh outfit in a cryptic social media post. After Al Nassr’s final game of the season, he posted online: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.” This came just days after FIFA President Gianni Infantino had claimed Ronaldo could leave his current employers. Speaking during a YouTube livestream the Swiss said ‘there have been discussions’ about the 40-year-old playing in the Club World Cup – which Al Nassr failed to qualify for. Despite Al Nassr insisting talks are ongoing over a contract renewal, this hasn’t stopped speculation that Ronaldo could join Al Hilal, the only Saudi Pro League side taking part in the competition. Brazilian outfit Botafogo were touted as another club who could take advantage of the 1-10 June transfer window to snap up the Portugal captain ahead of the FIFA showpiece. But with Chelsea also in action in the USA over the next month, former midfielder Mikel believes Ronaldo would be perfect for the Blues, who have long been urged to sign a striker. Discussing the unlikely move on talkSPORT Drive, the Nigerian said: “Ronaldo is an amazing player. “He’s an all-time goal scorer so it would be great to see him also participate in this tournament. “Do we need him at Chelsea? Of course we do. We need a number nine, but I think everybody knows the number nine that I want us to get and we’re not getting him.” GettyRonaldo is still firing in goals at 40, having scored 25 times in 30 league games for Al Nassr last season[/caption] Chelsea have been urged to sign a striker to compete with current number nine Nicolas JacksonGetty While Mikel claimed Ronaldo would be a dream signing, he conceded it now looks highly unlikely that Chelsea will even recruit his preferred goalscoring option. With the Blues set to announce the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich in a £30million deal, the ex-midfielder revealed he would have liked to see his former employers sign Victor Osimhen. Despite this, he backed Delap to shine at the Club World Cup, where he will compete with Nicolas Jackson for a starting berth. Mikel went on: “We need to get Osimhen but I don’t think the club is getting him now. We’ve gone a different route, we’re getting Delap. “I hope he comes in and helps the team as well. I want to see him in the Club World Cup, I want to see him perform. Obviously he needs to push Nicolas Jackson, the competition needs to be there. “Now we have healthy competition. Hopefully we can see how that’s going to lead us from this FIFA Club World Cup, into the Premier League and of course the Champions League.” Liam Delap scored 12 Premier League goals for Ipswich last termGetty John Obi Mikel made 372 appearances for Chelsea in nine years at Stamford Bridge As for Ronaldo’s next move, the two-time Premier League winner agreed that Al Hilal looks a strong possibility, with many keen to see the football icon in action at the Club World Cup, which will also see Lionel Messi in action with Inter Miami. Addressing if he would like to see Ronaldo at Chelsea, Mikel said: “I’d like to, but obviously we think [we know] where he might be going. “Obviously there’s this ten-day period of transfer window that’s been open just for the tournament for clubs to get one or two players into their teams, to build their team for the FIFA World Cup tournament. “So for me, I think it might be Al Hilal he might go to. “They’re trying to make sure they get him to the tournament, which is going to be good for the tournament for the fans, for football lovers to see Ronaldo and Lionel Messi again compete in another club World Cup tournament – it’s amazing.”
John Obi Mikel has urged Chelsea to make a stunning move for Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of the Club World Cup.
The football superstar is still yet to sign a new contract with Al Nassr, amid rumours he could join a side competing in the inaugural summer tournament, which kicks off on June 15.
With his current deal up at the end of the month, Ronaldo himself has sparked rumours he could depart the Riyadh outfit in a cryptic social media post.
After Al Nassr’s final game of the season, he posted online: “This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.”
This came just days after FIFA President Gianni Infantino had claimed Ronaldo could leave his current employers.
Speaking during a YouTube livestream the Swiss said ‘there have been discussions’ about the 40-year-old playing in the Club World Cup – which Al Nassr failed to qualify for.
Despite Al Nassr insisting talks are ongoing over a contract renewal, this hasn’t stopped speculation that Ronaldo could join Al Hilal, the only Saudi Pro League side taking part in the competition.
Brazilian outfit Botafogo were touted as another club who could take advantage of the 1-10 June transfer window to snap up the Portugal captain ahead of the FIFA showpiece.
But with Chelsea also in action in the USA over the next month, former midfielder Mikel believes Ronaldo would be perfect for the Blues, who have long been urged to sign a striker.
Discussing the unlikely move on talkSPORT Drive, the Nigerian said: “Ronaldo is an amazing player.
“He’s an all-time goal scorer so it would be great to see him also participate in this tournament.
“Do we need him at Chelsea? Of course we do. We need a number nine, but I think everybody knows the number nine that I want us to get and we’re not getting him.”
While Mikel claimed Ronaldo would be a dream signing, he conceded it now looks highly unlikely that Chelsea will even recruit his preferred goalscoring option.
With the Blues set to announce the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich in a £30million deal, the ex-midfielder revealed he would have liked to see his former employers sign Victor Osimhen.
Despite this, he backed Delap to shine at the Club World Cup, where he will compete with Nicolas Jackson for a starting berth.
Mikel went on: “We need to get Osimhen but I don’t think the club is getting him now. We’ve gone a different route, we’re getting Delap.
“I hope he comes in and helps the team as well. I want to see him in the Club World Cup, I want to see him perform. Obviously he needs to push Nicolas Jackson, the competition needs to be there.
“Now we have healthy competition. Hopefully we can see how that’s going to lead us from this FIFA Club World Cup, into the Premier League and of course the Champions League.”
As for Ronaldo’s next move, the two-time Premier League winner agreed that Al Hilal looks a strong possibility, with many keen to see the football icon in action at the Club World Cup, which will also see Lionel Messi in action with Inter Miami.
Addressing if he would like to see Ronaldo at Chelsea, Mikel said: “I’d like to, but obviously we think [we know] where he might be going.
“Obviously there’s this ten-day period of transfer window that’s been open just for the tournament for clubs to get one or two players into their teams, to build their team for the FIFA World Cup tournament.
“So for me, I think it might be Al Hilal he might go to.
“They’re trying to make sure they get him to the tournament, which is going to be good for the tournament for the fans, for football lovers to see Ronaldo and Lionel Messi again compete in another club World Cup tournament – it’s amazing.”
