Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham is one of the most coveted midfielders in the world with a number of Premier League teams after his signature as well as Real Madrid. They will present their offer to Bellingham, Europe’s most sought-after young midfielder, as an opportunity for him to become the best player in the world at a club that nurtures champions. And there is no greater sales pitch for those tasked with assisting the 19-year-old in making the best selection for his future state: he does not care where he can bank the greatest paycheck, but where he will be challenged to become the best version of himself. Bellingham’s personal fortitude and clarity about what he wants from his future were key factors in his decision to join Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham City in the summer of 2020.
Manchester United had offered him better terms, a tour of Carrington, and a meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson. BVB distilled their push into a plan for assisting his growth and turning him into a complete international within two years. He’d bring European expertise and a slew of minutes that many seasoned players on the continent would envy. Bellingham spent months studying both clubs, as well as the others who had approached his father Mark, from a football standpoint. How did they use the ball, how did they respond when they lost it, where might he fit in, how would his strengths and limitations be maximized, and deficiencies eroded?
Bellingham will go through the same procedure again, but on a much larger scale now that his talent commands a fee in excess of £100 million. Real’s charm attack has already begun, and there is considerable allure in becoming a key member of “the next all-star midfield,” as one club executive describes it. Toni Kroos wants to retire at the Bernabeu despite the fact that he is aware he is a part of the present and history but not the future. Real will be led by Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelian Tchouameni, and Federico Valverde, with the hierarchy of Florentino Perez, Juni Calafat, and Jose Angel Sanchez hoping for Bellingham to be the golden thread.
They have the European royalty aspect and haven’t been shy about pointing to Kylian Mbappe’s unhappiness this season as a result of his decision to refuse them and agree to an eye-watering extension at Paris Saint-Germain, which is laced with an unbelievable level of influence. The French international was reportedly promised that if he joined Real, he would be front and center for the Ballon d’Or and would know what it was like to ‘control the Champions League.’ According to the Spanish, Mbappe chose power and a fat bank account over “the sporting project,” and this should serve as a lesson. PSG does have a Ballon d’Or winner in Lionel Messi, but only because he is registered at the club during the 2021 season.
Erling Haaland might change that statistic at Manchester City, and Real sees Pep Guardiola’s team as the most serious threat to clinching Bellingham. Perez’s concerns about the power of state-funded clubs are well documented, but it’s not the money that worries him. City is tremendously sophisticated and well-structured and has a level of stability across the company that Real does not always have.
City is planning a midfield freshen because Ilkay Gundogan’s contract expires at the end of the season, Kevin De Bruyne is 31, and Bernardo Silva has considered leaving the Etihad in prior seasons. Guardiola has emphasized the necessity of progression in maintaining his team’s status as the benchmark. On and off the field, Bellingham and Haaland have incredible connections, and it’s tough to argue that he wouldn’t “win way more” and “push the boundaries of my own ability and talent” at City.
Liverpool’s interest in Jude Bellingham dates back to his time in Birmingham’s youth system, and they are the top Premier League club in need of midfield help. The Merseysiders are also regarded as the team that has put in the most effort behind the scenes over a long period of time to pierce the player’s decision-making process. Liverpool believed that when the manager committed his future to the club until 2026, it added a layer of security and continuity to their recruitment objectives and ability to draw top targets.
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