Jude Bellingham could be leading Manchester United midfield but wasn’t given one assurance he needed
What a difference Jude Bellingham could make to this Manchester United midfield.
The 20-year-old England midfielder, has been at Real Madrid for less than five months but is already one of their best players and it could have been different if United bosses had taken a risk, according to Rio Ferdinand's insider sources.
Bellingham has scored 13 goals in as many games in all competitions, with his latest two coming against Barcelona in El Clasico and then winning the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player under the age of 21.
But he has been making waves since breaking through as a 16-year-old at Birmingham and United along with many other top sides, were keen on signing one of football's hottest prospects in 2020.
However, it was Borussia Dortmund who won the race, with the Premier League giants missing out on a huge talent despite their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson showing him around the club's training facility.
Speaking on his about Bellingham's links with the club, Old Trafford legend Ferdinand said: "Do you know what I heard it was, he wanted some assurances about being a first-team player.
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"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’."
At the time Bellingham was just 17 and unproven at elite level football, so it would have been a risk to promise so much to someone so young.
Dortmund ended being the ideal place to aid his development where Erling Haaland was also rising through the ranks.
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Ferdinand added: "He's gone [to another club] and done that and he's turned around and said, 'I told you guys, you didn't believe me did you?'
"Then he's gone to Real Madrid and he's tearing down Real Madrid, he's tearing down the Bernabeu, they've just rebuilt it and he's tearing it down - unbelievable!"
Whilst Bellingham is now loving life in Madrid, United once again offered a dismal showing in the Carabao Cup against Newcastle.
They lost 3-0 at home to the Magpies just three days after they were defeated by the same scoreline by Manchester City.
United's midfield, which welcomed Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat in the summer, has been questioned during the season.
There is no doubt Bellingham would have vastly improved them, but it's Madrid who are reaping the rewards of their marquee signing.