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Cristiano Ronaldo scored 24 goals for Man Utd last season (Photo: Getty)

Former Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has labelled the club’s reported attempt to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United as nothing more than a marketing ploy.

On Saturday, it was reported that new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly held a meeting with Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes, where the possibility of a bringing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner from Old Trafford to Stamford Bridge was discussed.

Boehly is keen to spend big and make several marquee signings in his first summer in charge of the club, with Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele also linked to the Blues.

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Man City forward Raheem Sterling has also been linked to Chelsea (Photo: Getty)

While Ronaldo is unquestionably one of the world’s best players, even at the age of 37, Johnson does not believe the Portuguese forward would be a good signing in footballing terms, but he would fit Boehly’s marquee signing criteria perfectly.

‘If he goes to Chelsea then he’d burn his bridges at Manchester United,’ Johnson told GGRecon.

‘From Chelsea’s perspective, he’s a massive brand and he may be expensive, but you’d probably make that money back in two weeks through shirt sales. He may cost a fortune, but the club would probably make more by just having him. Signing Ronaldo is like signing a commercial deal.

‘I don’t think Ronaldo can change Chelsea’s fortunes as a player now, but I think having him in the dressing room would. On the pitch now, he’s not the Ronaldo we all want to see, but him being in the dressing room will get another 5% out of everyone around him.’

This has all come amid speculation suggesting that Ronaldo was unhappy with United’s lack of activity in the transfer market, with the player also being linked with moves to Bayern Munich, Sporting Lisbon and Inter Miami.

But United have quickly rubbished the idea of selling Ronaldo who is set to play a big part in Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge of the Red Devils.

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