Why Bellingham rejected massive Premier League move
Tom Weber
- Updated: 11 Oct 2023 06:25 BST
- 4 min read
Jude Bellingham's father 'gave Manchester City hope' of signing him in the summer, but the midfielder only wanted Real Madrid.
It didn't take long for the transfer saga surrounding the England star to be resolved. Though Liverpool were long linked with Bellingham, once they pulled out, it became clear very quickly that the then-Borussia Dortmund wonderkid would be on his way to Real Madrid.
Los Blancos paid a whopping €103 million for the 20-year-old, but it is already looking like money well spent, with Bellingham not only playing like a €200m midfielder already but even filling the role vacated by Karim Benzema, recording a stunning 10 goals and three assists in 10 games so far.
READ: Henry explains reason behind Bellingham's incredible Real Madrid form
José Manuel Otero, a member of Los Blancos' board of directors, has admitted on a Twitch stream that "Bellingham cost a lot of money, but was he expensive? I don't think so. It's the same as a Rolls Royce. It costs a lot of money, but it is not expensive. What you get for what you pay is very important.”
Otero also shed some light on why Bellingham spurned a big-money move to the Premier League.
What did Otero say?
The Madrid chief revealed that Bellingham's father Mark was in talks with Man City over the summer and 'gave them hope' only for his son to reject them after having his head turned by the Spanish giants.
“They told us this the other day at lunch with [City Football Group-owned] Girona," he said. "People from Manchester City came to eat and told us that they had been talking to Bellingham."
READ: 'It seemed like Mbappe was very close to joining' admits Real Madrid star
"They said that the father had entertained them a little by giving them hope, but Jude said no, he wanted to play for Real Madrid. That is happening with many players. When the prospect of signing for Real Madrid opens up to them, they forget everything else. Madrid is the best way to achieve glory.”
