"Sir Alex Ferguson was there. Bryan Robson was there. Eric Cantona was there. The manager Ole Gunnar Solskjr was there, and yet even as these four club legends sold the dream of Manchester United to a 17-year-old from the Midlands, they could sense the elusiveness, the coldness, the drop of the shoulder. The nagging suspicion that, like so many defenders Jude Bellingham would later encounter, they too were grasping at pure air."
"He had it planned out, Solskjr would later remember. He knew what he wanted. X amount of minutes in the first team. The most mature 17yearold I've ever met in my life. Though five years have passed since Bellingham turned down United for Borussia Dortmund, for me this is still the story that explains him best of all. The origin myth. This is what you all think I'm going to do. So I'm going to step that way instead."
"And before we talk about Problem Jude, Petulant Jude, Selfish Jude, One Man World Cup Wrecking Ball Jude, let's first discuss Jude the way he deserves to be discussed. Jude, the artist. Jude, the apostate. Jude, the obsessive student of the game who quotes Theodore Roosevelt after a big tournament win. The Jude who scores one of the most memorable goals in England history at Euro 2024, who has played five La Liga clasicos and scored the winning goal in three."
Managers including Sir Alex Ferguson, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Ole Gunnar Solskjr courted a 17-year-old Jude Bellingham but sensed his elusiveness and coldness. Bellingham had a clear plan, demanding first-team minutes and showing rare maturity. He turned down Manchester United to join Borussia Dortmund, a decision that serves as an origin myth explaining his character. Bellingham combines obsessive study, artistic flair and competitive ruthlessness, scoring memorable goals including at Euro 2024 and decisive La Liga clásico winners. Critics acknowledge his exceptional talent yet frequently fixate on perceived attitude, framing debates about outcomes and character in sport.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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