‘We thought we had him’ – Bryan Robson lifts lid on failed Jude Bellingham transfer talks

Manchester United failed in their attempt to sign Jude Bellingham from Birmingham City in the summer of 2020, when the rising star decided to move to Borussia Dortmund where he rightly believed there was a better pathway into the first-team. The young England international made a name for himself in Germany before a summer switch to Real Madrid saw him become the latest hero of the Bernabeu.

The failed pursuit of Bellingham in 2020 is often talked about as one of the biggest missing opportunities in recent years. He’s not the only top player United have missed out on but it is something Ineos will want to address in the future because it often turns out costly.

Bellingham was already making a name for himself in 2020 and had many top clubs chasing his signature, including United. The talks with United were led by former football director John Murtough, who was accompanied by Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona and Bryan Robson in a bid to sway the player’s decision our way.

“It was really disappointing,” Robson told The Telegraph. “We were at Carrington and Sir Alex Ferguson was there a little earlier than I was, but Eric and I met him, and his mum and dad, and we were chatting away.

“It was really looking promising that he was going to be signing for Manchester United… me and Eric did a rubbish job as he signed for Borussia! We thought we had him in the bag!”

United cannot continue to miss out on world beater talents like Bellingham. Can you imagine him in our midfield now, alongside Kobbie Mainoo, playing week in week out?

Close but no cigar.

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