Jude Bellingham rejected Manchester United because they couldn't promise he'd be 'a first-team player'

By Mark White
published

Manchester United wanted Jude Bellingham to come to Old Trafford – but couldn't promise they'd play him often enough for his liking

Manchester United target Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and CA Osasuna at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 07, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.
(Image credit: Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Jude Bellingham turned down Manchester United offering him a move, with the Red Devils failing to give any assurances of how often he'd play.

That's according to former Manchester United captain, Rio Ferdinand, who says that he's heard from "a very good source" that Bellingham was in discussions with his former club. The England international has since moved onto Real Madrid, where he has netted 13 in his first 13 – and put himself as the outright favourite for the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

Given that the 20-year-old played 44 times in his first senior season with boyhood club Birmingham City, before playing 46, 44 and 42 times across three Borussia Dortmund campaigns, United's concerns now seem misplaced.

Erik ten Hag the head coach / manager of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and Manchester United at Turf Moor on September 23, 2023 in Burnley, England.

Manchester United missed out on signing Bellingham, over playing time (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Do you know what I heard it was?" Ferdinand said on Vibe with Five, "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’.

VIDEO: Jim Ratcliffe's Manchester United Takeover EXPLAINED

"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 to Real Madrid [and] the Bernabeu… they’ve just rebuilt it and he’s tearing it down! Unbelievable."

Rio Ferdinand smiling

Rio Ferdinand has lifted the lid on Bellingham (Image credit: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

United were interested in Dortmund duo Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho during their Bundesliga stints, too, eventually signing the latter. 

Bellingham once refused to travel to Manchester United to discuss a transfer because he didn’t want to miss training with Birmingham City. 

More Manchester United and Jude Bellingham stories

Ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane labelled his old club "embarrassing" in the wake of the defeat to Manchester City – and Keane's former teammate Gary Neville made a similar assessment of Antony's aggressive substitute appearance.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Man United's prospective takeover "is set to accelerate quickly".

Fresh from lifting the Kopa Trophy, the England international has responded to 'tap-in merchant' comments following his star turn in El Clasico, while Vinicius Jr has hailed his team-mate. 

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Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.