HELL’S BELLS! IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE JUDE IS JUST 17
PEP GUARDIOLA could not believe Jude Bellingham’s age after the teenager’s mature Champions League displays against Manchester City.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham, just 17, was his side’s best player over the two legs of the tie, despite the Bundesliga side ultimately going out to City.
Bellingham, signed by Dortmund from Birmingham for £25million last summer, has been a revelation in his debut season in Germany and his performances have already earned him an England call-up.
Now odds-on to secure a place in Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad for Euro 2020, Bellingham drew huge praise from Guardiola after he scored a sublime opener in the second leg.
Asked how impressed he was by Bellingham’s display, given the midfielder’s age,
Guardiola said: “I cannot believe it, maybe he’s a liar! He’s so good for a 17-year-old, he’s a fantastic player. There was one moment when he didn’t get the ball from central defenders, and how he shouts and demands that ball at 17 means a lot. I spoke with his manager, Edin Terzic, and he told me what you saw in the two games is what he’s like every training session.”
Bellingham is certain to be in demand at Europe’s top clubs this summer, including City and local rivals Manchester United, especially if Dortmund miss out on Champions League football next season.
Dortmund are currently fifth in the Bundesliga, seven points behind fourthplaced Eintracht Frankfurt with just six games left to play.
If they fail to get into the Champions League next term, Dortmund know it will be hard for them to hold on to their three prized assets – Bellingham, former City winger Jadon Sancho (above), and Norwegian international Erling Haaland.