Talking on the Bild podcast ‘Phrasenmäher’ Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro revealed that the membership nearly signed Jude Bellingham earlier than he moved to Borussia Dortmund.

Carro was first requested if cash was no object, which participant would he signal: 

“If I needed to title one participant, I might say Jude Bellingham, as a result of I nonetheless battle with the truth that we didn’t signal him.”

The CEO then goes on to disclose extra concerning the failed transfer for the Englishman: 

“We have been already very fascinated with him a 12 months earlier than Bellingham moved to BVB. Simon Rolfes actually needed him. Bellingham was 16 years outdated on the time. We watched movies of him along with Rudi Völler and have been all impressed. We additionally had the okay from our shareholders’ committee to spend a switch payment of as much as a certain quantity on him – however Birmingham demanded double that and so we didn’t do it. “The truth that we didn’t do this again then nonetheless annoys me at this time.”

It’s recommended that Leverkusen supplied round €7.5m for Bellingham who would finally transfer to Dortmund for €30m in 2020. The midfielder would then transfer to Actual Madrid three years later for a payment that might rise above €120m if clauses are met. 

Throughout his three years in Germany, Bellingham grew into one in every of Dortmund’s most necessary gamers and even captained the staff at occasions in his last season on the membership. Whereas on the Sign Iduna Park, Bellingham gained the DFB Pokal however the Bundesliga title eluded him. Whether or not Bellingham, who was injured on the time and ended up successful Bundesliga Participant of the Season that 12 months, may have made a distinction of their final-day draw with Mainz in 2022/23 is unknown.

GGFN | Jack Meenan