Jude Bellingham said no to Man United over a lack of first team assurances, according to Rio Ferdinand.
Manchester United absolutely rolled out the red carpet to try and acquire the services of Jude Bellingham a few years ago. That is well documented. Eventually, the Red Devils came up short.
Bellingham chose Borussia Dortmund. Looking back, I’m pretty sure the Englishman is super happy with his decision. At the end of the day, he’s now one of the best players in the world in his position. He is still only twenty years of age. He’s only getting better.
At the time, United felt confident they’d done enough to bring Bellingham in, though it looks like the player always had other ideas.
Now, Rio Ferdinand has shed some light on why the world-class star chose to turn down a possible move to United – and it was over a lack of first-team assurances.
Check out what Rio had to say in full here:
“Do you know what I heard it was, he wanted some assurances about being a first-team player.” Rio said on his FIVE YouTube channel.
“And United weren’t willing to give him those assurances, that’s what I heard from a very good source.
“He wasn’t given assurances of being around the first team and he’s said, ‘Do you know what, I know my worth, I know my value and if you don’t value me the way I see myself I’m going to have to jog on and go to another club’.”
If true, it’s on United. Bellingham could have been a game-changing signing at that time. There’s no doubt that United would have been forced into playing him regularly due to his sheer natural ability. However, you can understand why they wouldn’t make guarantees to a then 17-year-old. It’s something United have never done before.
I can understand both sides of the argument. For Bellingham, he waltzed into Dortmund and began to make an impression from day one so he’ll feel like he made the right move. United will also feel content with their decision due to the fact that they’d never guarantee anything to someone so young.
Yes, looking back it was obviously the wrong decision, but we never knew what Bellingham would become. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, huh?
The way United are going, there is no way that they’ll ever sign Bellingham in future, assuming he wants to play his football in the Premier League at some stage in his career. Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are probably the likely destinations.
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