Frank Lampard has revealed that Chelsea missed out on signing Jude Bellingham in 2020 because they couldn’t guarantee him an immediate starting role. The midfielder had visited Chelsea’s training base in Cobham, but ultimately chose to join Borussia Dortmund in a £25 million move. Other top clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich had also shown interest in Bellingham, but Dortmund emerged as the winners. Since then, Bellingham has established himself as a key player for Dortmund, winning the German cup and being named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season. His impressive performances earned him a £88.5 million move to Real Madrid, where he had a sensational debut season, helping the club win La Liga, the Champions League, and the Spanish Super Cup. Now, England’s hopes at Euro 2024 are centered around Bellingham’s performances in Germany.
Speaking about Chelsea’s pursuit of Bellingham, Lampard revealed that he tried to convince the midfielder and his family by highlighting the opportunities for young players at the club. However, it seems that they were more inclined towards a move to Dortmund, where Bellingham would have more chances to play and develop. Lampard acknowledged that what Bellingham achieved at Dortmund was special, as he played regularly and his personality grew. Lampard also expressed admiration for Bellingham’s impact at Real Madrid, stating that it is unprecedented for an English player of his age to make such an immediate impact at a top club.
Frank Lampard spoke with the England international at Chelsea’s training base. According to Redknapp, Bellingham’s success in his first season in Spain is unprecedented in the game. The former Liverpool, Tottenham, and England midfielder stated, “No, I haven’t seen it before. It’s unprecedented.” Redknapp also praised Bellingham’s cool and confident style, noting his celebration after scoring a goal, comparing him to a matador. He added, “He’s got them eating out the palm of his hand.”
Gareth Southgate, the England head coach, expressed his confidence in Bellingham’s ability to handle the pressure he will face in Germany during the Euro 2024 opener against Serbia. Southgate emphasized that while Bellingham is a key player, the team’s success does not solely rely on him. He said, “We’ve got a lot of good players, and it is a collective thing to go and try to win this tournament. If we are relying on one person, that isn’t going to be a team that wins.” Southgate acknowledged Bellingham’s strong mentality and predicted that he would have a significant impact on the entire group. However, he also highlighted the importance of having all the players together on the pitch at the same time, which has not been the case in recent games.
