As Jude Bellingham gears up to shine for Real Madrid in the Champions League final, Manchester United may be left pondering what might have been. Bellingham will be the centre of attention at Wembley on Saturday night when he faces Borussia Dortmund, the team who nurtured him after his departure from Birmingham City. A victory over his former side would see the England star hoist the most coveted trophy in European club football and even solidify his position as a frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or. Having already clinched the La Liga title with Real Madrid, Bellingham has developed immensely since his breakout season at St Andrew’s at the tender age of 16. The midfielder famously turned down a high-profile move to United in 2020, with part of the club’s sales pitch reportedly irking Sir Alex Ferguson. After making his mark at Birmingham City, it was clear that Bellingham was one of the game’s best prospects, prompting plenty of interest from elite clubs. United were among those leading the race, with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preparing a presentation to persuade Bellingham and enlisting several club legends to help secure the deal. The Athletic reported that Solskjaer invited Ferguson to meet with Bellingham and his family during their visit to Carrington. However, it’s said that football director John Murtough cut short their interaction to give Bellingham a tour of the training facilities, leaving Ferguson ‘incandescent’, although Murtough denies interrupting their conversation. Reflecting on the meeting, Solskjaer shared with Stick to Football: “Jude, he was in the building. I was there, Sir Alex Ferguson was there, Bryan Robson and Eric Cantona were all there that day when he came to the club. “We all spoke to him and sold it as well as we could. He knew what he wanted, a certain amount of minutes in the first team. He was 17 at the time, and he was the most mature 17-year-old I’ve ever met he had it all planned out.”
Manchester United may find itself wondering what may have been as Jude Bellingham prepares to shine for Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
When Bellingham plays Borussia Dortmund on Saturday night at Wembley, the team that developed him when he left Birmingham City, the spotlight will be on him. The England player would lift the most coveted trophy in European club football and maybe cement his place as a front-runner for the Ballon d’Or with a win over his old team.
Since his breakthrough season at St Andrew’s at the youthful age of sixteen, Bellingham has grown tremendously, having already won the La Liga championship with Real Madrid. In 2020, the midfield player infamously rejected a high-profile transfer to United, allegedly because of a portion of the team’s sales pitch that infuriated Sir Alex Ferguson.
A number of top teams expressed interest in Bellingham when he made a name for himself at Birmingham City, demonstrating his status as one of the game’s greatest prospects. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United’s manager, prepared a presentation to convince Bellingham and enlisted the support of numerous club veterans to help seal the deal. United was among those leading the race.
During Bellingham and his family’s vacation to Carrington, Ferguson received an invitation from Solskjaer, according to The Athletic. Ferguson reportedly became “incandescent” when football director John Murtough interrupted their meeting to give Bellingham a tour of the training facilities, however Murtough disputes this.
Stick to Football received a reflection from Solskjaer, who said, “Jude, he was in the building.” That day that he visited the club, Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, and Sir Alex Ferguson were all present.
“We all had a conversation with him and tried our best to sell it. He was clear about his goals—a specific number of playing time with the starting squad. At the age of 17, he was the most responsible 17-year-old I’ve ever met; he had everything planned out.”
