Cristiano Ronaldo has told £45m Chelsea player to join him in Saudi Arabia, the Blues would love him to go

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Chelsea have previously found success sending a number of players no longer in their plans to the Saudi Pro League.

Former Blues Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and N’golo Kante have all made the move to Saudi Arabia, with the latter enjoying somewhat of a career rebirth since making the switch and retaining his fitness.

It has not just been experienced players who have been shipped off when the opportunity cropped up. Chelsea made a significant profit on Angelo Gabriel as he decided to join Al-Nassr.

The Brazilian has been playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo this season. They are currently third in the league, eight points off leaders Al-Ittihad.

Given the healthy transfer fees Saudi clubs are known to pay, there is an appetite from Chelsea to send their players there. They will also not be a threat in any domestic or European competitions to the Blues.

Cristiano Ronaldo has told Chelsea’s Joao Felix to join him in Saudi Arabia

One of the players who fits that criteria is Joao Felix, who is not expected to make his loan to AC Milan permanent at the end of the season.

Journalist Graeme Bailey has exclusively told The Chelsea Chronicle that Ronaldo has been in touch with Felix to try and convince him to make the move to Saudi Arabia, however his heart may be set on a move elsewhere.

He said: “Having a permanent buyer is the issue. That’s the risk with sending these players out on loan. He’s got a lot of admirers. Jorge Mendes is doing work. A Wolves, West Ham would take him. Benfica’s the one. I think he’ll want to go Benfica. It’ll be a feelgood opportunity for him.

“Chelsea would love him to go to Saudi Arabia. I am told that Ronaldo has recommended that move to him, but he probably does that with most Portuguese players. I could see Felix in Saudi, but I think he’ll want to go to Benfica.”

Joao Felix’s disaster at AC Milan

Things got off to the best possible start for Felix when he scored just minutes into his Milan debut, however things have gradually gone downhill since then.

The Italian media have become very critical of Felix, and he has found himself outside of the starting line-up in recent weeks as they try to rescue their domestic season.

With changes expected across the board at the San Siro, there is no chance the attacker continues his time there, leaving Chelsea to look elsewhere.

However, they will want to avoid getting into a habit of loaning him out and look to regain some of the £45m they spent on him at the start of the season.