Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits he wanted Jude Bellingham at the Theatre of Dreams
Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that he wanted to sign former Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham during his time at Old Trafford.
The Norwegian also said that the 20-year-old star made a sensible decision by snubbing a move to the English giants.
In recent years, there have been several instances of missed opportunities and misguided decisions in the football transfer market.
Even at this moment, the huge investments made in Jadon Sancho and Antony in the last few years now appear to be questionable moves.
Additionally, some may lament United’s failure to sign Moises Caicedo for a mere £4.5 million in January 2021. Moreover, the case of Bellingham stands out as United not only missed out on signing the talented midfielder once but twice as well.
During his tenure at Birmingham City, the Red Devils initially pursued the English star. The young midfielder had quickly risen to prominence in the first team, capturing the attention of top Premier League clubs.
United made efforts to convince Bellingham to join their ranks, but he ultimately chose to transfer to Dortmund. The youngster rose to stardom, and the Red Devils maintained their interest, eyeing a huge £110 million deal in March.
However, Real Madrid secured his services this summer, leaving United empty-handed for the second time. Former manager Solskjaer recently spoke to The Athletic, covering various topics, including the players he couldn’t sign.
Solskjaer confessed that United had a strong desire to acquire Bellingham and made significant efforts to bring him to the club.
However, he also admitted that the player’s decision to move to Germany was likely a wise one, considering the trajectory of the young player’s career.
While speaking to the Athletic (subscription required) (h/t Fabrizio Romano), the former manager said:
“We wanted Jude Bellingham at Manchester United badly. He was one of my top targets at the club. Jude chose Dortmund and I respect that.”
Man United will be kicking themselves for missing out on such a top player once again. Bellingham has been a star performer ever since making a move to Madrid. He has already scored five goals in as many appearances for the La Liga side and is showing no signs of slowing down.
The midfielder has also been in fine form for his national team, and he recently scored a goal against Scotland in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The fans would be dreaming of the lethal squad Solskjaer could have made if the club’s management had given him his targets.
The Red Devils would have had a challenging squad at their disposal. Players like Bellingham are rare to find, and missing out on them will be hard to digest.
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The English giant’s inability to seal transfers quickly is nothing new to witness. However, such instability in the transfer market is not a healthy sign for any club.
