Manchester United wanted Jude Bellingham to come to Old Trafford – but couldn't promise they'd play him often enough for his liking
(Image credit: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
Jude Bellingham turned down Manchester United offering him a move, with the Red Devils failing to give any assurances of how often he'd play.
That's according to former Manchester United captain, Rio Ferdinand, who says that he's heard from "a very good source" that Bellingham was in discussions with his former club. The England international has since moved onto Real Madrid, where he has netted 13 in his first 13 – and put himself as the outright favourite for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.
Given that the 20-year-old played 44 times in his first senior season with boyhood club Birmingham City, before playing 46, 44 and 42 times across three Borussia Dortmund campaigns, United's concerns now seem misplaced.
Manchester United missed out on signing Bellingham, over playing time (Image credit: Getty Images)
"Do you know what I heard it was?" Ferdinand said on Vibe with Five, "He [Bellingham] wanted some assurances about being a first-team player 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’.
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"He’s gone and done that and he’s turned round and gone, ‘I told you guys, you didn’t believe me did you?’.
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"And he’s gone to Real Madrid [and] the Bernabeu… they’ve just rebuilt it and he’s tearing it down! Unbelievable."
Rio Ferdinand has lifted the lid on Bellingham (Image credit: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
United were interested in Dortmund duo Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho during their Bundesliga stints, too, eventually signing the latter.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
