Eidur: I'd love to see Ronaldo here

13 April 2012

For all the great players to be linked with Chelsea on an almost daily basis, an irresistible combination of romance and reason makes one name stand out: Ronaldo Luiz Nazario De Lima. The buck-toothed boy from Brazil would have a blast at the Bridge.

Claudio Ranieri suggested on Wednesday that Chelsea were considering a sensational swoop for Ronaldo and David Beckham and the wheels are already in motion.

Roman Abramovich has met Real Madrid president Florentino Perez on several occasions and the question has been asked, if only informally.

There is much to suggest the transfer would suit both clubs. It remains something of a curiosity that, for all the £140million spent on players since Abramovich transformed English football last summer, Chelsea do not possess a galactico, a single shining star who would unquestionably walk into any team in the world. Ranieri has plenty, some would say too many, good players at his disposal but the upper echelon remain elsewhere.

Peter Kenyon's stated aim since taking over as chief executive in February is to fuse the financial strength he developed at Manchester United with the footballing flourish of Real at their finest. So what better way to start than by signing one of the Spanish side's leading players.

In football terms alone it makes perfect sense. Ronaldo's scoring record of four goals in every five games is simply extraordinary, all the more so when you consider that he lost the best part of four seasons of his career to horrendous knee injuries in his early 20s.

Ever since he completed his rehabilitation by inspiring Brazil to win the 2002 World Cup it has seemed as if he has never been away, slightly slower and considerably bulkier perhaps, but just as deadly in front of goal.

The 27-year-old's 30 goals in his first full season back last year inspired Real to the title and it should be no surprise that their current slump has coincided with his absence through injury.

Even Chelsea's players, one suspects, would welcome the addition of the Brazilian. Eidur Gudjohnsen, who played with Ronaldo as a youngster at PSV Eindhoven, has no doubts and is excited about the prospect of linking up with his former team-mate.

Gudjohnsen told Chelsea TV: "You have to be excited about someone like Ronaldo even being linked with the club. If he came to Chelsea he'd be a player that everyone would enjoy watching.

"He's by far the best player I've ever seen and when he's on top of his game he's unstoppable.

"I'd love to make him the top scorer in the Premiership.

"Ronaldo was only 17 when he scored 30 league goals in Holland for PSV and his goal ratio was one in every game. Some of the things he's done for Barcelona, Inter Milan and now Real Madrid are amazing.

"Injuries may have hampered his career a little bit but he's still been voted the best player in the world, best player at the World Cup and won the thing. Imagine what he'd be like if he was fully fit."

Chelsea's fans would also be thrilled by the presence of their first footballing icon since Gianfranco Zola, who has never really been replaced in the hearts of true Blues. Adrian Mutu grabbed their attention with a flurry of goals in the autumn but has proved too inconsistent, while Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is too selfish and Hernan Crespo too anonymous. Juan Veron is never there.

It says something that Chelsea's only real heroes are Frank Lampard and John Terry, players admired more for their honesty and endeavour than any artistry.

Although both have had outstanding seasons and can be expected to more than hold their own alongside Europe's best at Euro 2004 in Portugal, neither will sell many shirts in the Far East.

While Chelsea's interest in Ronaldo is understandable, the fact that Real may be willing to sell is more surprising. At the heart of the matter is his uneasy relationship with Perez, never one to tolerate an ego the size of his.

The Real president is said to be tired of Ronaldo's incessant partying and dubious work ethic and would welcome the money to make a bid for Ruud van Nistelrooy, this year's galactico elect.

Ultimately, though, it is down to the player as Ronaldo usually gets what Ronaldo wants.

In an 11-year, five-club career he has only spent more than two seasons at one club, and the vast majority of his five years at Inter Milan were ruined by injury.

Ronaldo is no stranger to agitating for a move and the prospect of playing for the world's most talked-about club under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, who inspired him to 30 goals in a season as a coach at Barcelona, may appear too good to refuse.

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Chelsea F.c.

Eidur Gudjohnsen

Psv Eindhoven

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Eidur: I'd love to see Ronaldo here

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