Why Manchester United are relaxed about Cristiano Ronaldo transfer speculation

There have been so many departures at Chelsea the offices at Stamford Bridge are possibly sparser than at Old Trafford. Bruce Buck and Marina Granovskaia left the building last week and on Monday morning Chelsea announced Petr Cech has vacated the technical and performance advisor role.

All three are acolytes of Roman Abramovich and synonymous with his sportswashing heyday. Chelsea's new American owner, Todd Boehly, has already been more hands-on than Abramovich and his compatriot Premier League owners across the Atlantic.

Boehly's rendezvous with Jorge Mendes evokes memories of Ed Woodward gladhanding the game's most eminent agent seven years ago. Woodward arranged for Mendes's daughter to undertake work experience at Manchester United, negotiated deals for his clients Angel di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Jose Mourinho, and hugged Mendes in the Old Trafford directors' box moments before Cristiano Ronaldo's homecoming debut.

Also read: Garnacho returns to pre-season early

After only the seventh trophyless season in the last 20 years, Chelsea have already cut their losses on their most expensive signing (for a year) and their new owner is flexing his muscles. Boehly is entering a different ballpark to Dodger Stadium and will have to lean on agents and intermediaries with Granovskaia gone. Meeting Mendes briefly quietens the braying hyenas awaiting a first transfer of the summer.

When you think of Mendes, you think of Ronaldo. Chelsea associating themselves with the game's greatest goalscorer is bound to send Boehly's approval ratings north. The reports of Ronaldo cropping up in discussions between Boehly and Mendes on Saturday emerged while most were waiting for Paul McCartney on the Pyramid Stage. From one ageing headline