‘Is this your €150m midfielder?!’: Chelsea fans unimpressed by Bellingham display

Suraj Radia

• 7 Mar 2023 22:42 GMT
• 4 min read

Jude Bellingham was ridiculed by Chelsea fans on social media after failing to impress for Dortmund as they crashed out of the Champions League at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea overturned their 1-0 first leg loss to defeat Dortmund by two goals and progress to the quarter finals, with Bellingham potentially playing his final European game for the German side.

Bellingham missed a glorious chance in the first half to equalise on the night for Dortmund and the 19-year-old struggled to make an impact on the game despite his side having the majority of possession.

Although he had more successful tackles and dribbles than any other player on the pitch, Chelsea fans were critical of Bellingham’s ability to create as well as his discipline, having received a yellow card for a late, strong tackle.

With Bellingham being linked with a €150 million summer move to a number of elite teams including Chelsea, the England international left some Premier League fans wondering what the hype was about.

’Bundesliga tax at it again!’

All eyes were on Bellingham as speculation fuelled over his future and a number of Chelsea fans couldn’t believe that the midfielder was being linked with a move that could break the British transfer record the Blues paid for Enzo Fernandez in January.

Fernandez was a €120m arrival from Benfica and Chelsea supporters were quick to point out the apparent difference in quality between him and Bellingham, with plenty claiming that the Argentine was ‘clear’ of his Dortmund compatriot.

Bellingham’s price tag was mocked as fans debated whether his playstyle was anything special, with one supporter even claiming that he ‘looks like any other box to box midfielder you find in the Championship but he just happens to be young.

Another also described Bellingham as ‘an incredibly overhyped individual’ who was ‘completely invisible’ in 180 minutes against ‘struggling’ Premier League opposition, with the ‘Bundesliga tax at it again’.

However, there were also plenty of support for Bellingham, with one fan saying: “He’s a superstar, the narrative around him today because for once the 19-year-old didn't bail out his team from midfield is insane.”

Others also took the positives from Bellingham’s performance, hoping that it would lower his pricetag ahead of a summer move as teams such as Manchester City, Liverpool and Real Madrid queue up to sign him this summer.