'That's why' - Jude Bellingham explains Real Madrid transfer decision after Liverpool interest
Last week marked a year since Liverpool’s decision to end interest in signing Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund was made public.
The England international had been a long-term Reds transfer target, having first tried to sign him when he was a schoolboy at Birmingham City. Shining in the Bundesliga with Dortmund, talk of a potential future move to Anfield began to gather pace from September 2021 - even if it was conceded he would not be on the move until after the 2022 World Cup.
Yet 18 months later, as his Dortmund career neared its end, Liverpool withdrew from the race to sign Bellingham. With the Reds enduring a miserable campaign, by this point well-aware that they would miss out on Champions League qualification and needed a major midfield overhaul, the ECHO reported at the time that the club had determined they would be better served spreading the cash on several signings rather than committing the majority to one big-money arrival.
Liverpool get major boost before Atalanta as Jurgen Klopp wish finally comes true
Jurgen Klopp sees history repeat itself after Liverpool shock announcement
Bellingham would go on to join Real Madrid in June 2023 for an initial £88.5m fee, and has gone on to enjoy a staggering first season at the Bernabeu. Boasting 20 goals and 10 assists from 34 appearances, the midfielder is eyeing up a potential La Liga and Champions League double in his maiden season in Spain.
Liverpool would go on to complete an £150m overhaul themselves, bringing in Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion for £35m after matching his release clause prior to Bellingham’s move to Madrid, before snapping up Dominik Szoboszlai (£60m), Wataru Endo (£16.2m) and Ryan Gravenberch (£40m).
Jurgen Klopp would
Read on liverpoolecho.co.uk
