Rio Ferdinand reveals the real reason Jude Bellingham turned Man Utd down

Rio Ferdinand has revealed the real reason why Jude Bellingham turned down a move to Manchester United.

Bellingham has established himself as one of the most promising talents in world football, having had an excellent start to life at Real Madrid.

The 20-year-old sensation has already hit 13 goals for the Spanish club since joining from Borussia Dortmund over the summer. While he picked up the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d'Or awards after being voted the best under 21 player on the planet.

But had things gone differently, Manchester United could have got their hands on the Englishman.

Rewind to the summer of 2020, Bellingham, who was playing for Birmingham City at the time, entered talks with the Red Devils over a possible move Old Trafford.

According to The Sun, former manager Sir Alex Ferguson was even drafted in to help persuade the teenager. However, he ended up choosing Borussia Dortmund instead.

It is a decision that will haunt United fans all the more bearing in mind their recent form, having suffered consecutive 3-0 defeats to local rivals Manchester City and Newcastle.

And former United defender-turned pundit Ferdinand has since lifted the lid on why he turned down a move to the Premier League giants.

Speaking on Vibe with Five, he said: "Do you know what I heard it was… he [Bellingham] wanted some assurances about being a first-team player.

"And United weren’t willing to give him those assurances, that’s what I heard from a very good source.

"He wasn’t given assurances of being around the first team and he’s said, ‘do you know what, I know my worth, I know my value and if you don’t value me the way I see myself I’m going to have to jog on and go to another club’.

"He’s gone and done that and he’s turned round and gone, ‘I told you guys, you didn’t believe me did you?’.

"And he’s gone Real Madrid and he’s tearing down Real Madrid, he’s turning down the Bernabeu, they’ve just rebuilt it and he’s tearing it down! Unbelievable."

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Topics: Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United, Football, Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid

Joe Adams

Joe is a Journalist for SPORTbible with a primary focus on football. He has previously covered a number of other sports including boxing, rugby and F1. Wishes he was born left-footed.

@joeadamsjourno