Jude Bellingham Is No Fool, Says Ole Gunnar Solskjær

Details of the length or expiry of managers' probationary periods don't get released following their exits from football clubs, but it became quite apparent recently that former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær had finally had the green and yellow tape ripped from his lips. What came out, as a result, made one feel as though the Norwegian had been loading up since that fateful day of defeat at Watford for his chance to let rip, and an analysis of the entire interview from start to finish would be closer to the length of a book. 

Hence, we will focus on one particular comment; one that admittedly went under the radar amidst the more pressing, headline-creating matters that Solskjær addressed.

"We wanted Jude Bellingham badly... but I respect he chose Dortmund. That was probably sensible."

Interesting. Now, we all understand that it is easier for Ole to praise Jude's anti-United decision-making once he's 20 months removed from the job and sat comfortably in Norway with plenty of hindsight. It's hardly far-fetched to imagine that he perhaps wasn't so impressed with the youngster's move to Germany at the time it happened. Nevertheless, the stance one takes with hindsight tends to be more true to their senses than their view that lacked it. 

Why is this relevant? Well, the easier and more self-adulating thing to say is that the signing of Bellingham would've transformed Solskjær's United; that injecting the Englishman into the heart of the team would've sent ripple effects so potent that a dazzling playstyle, and with it trophies, and with those another contract extension for the boss would've all turned to reality.

But no. With a respectable level of logical confession, Ole was happy to admit that Jude did the best thing for his career by signing for Dortmund - the club that kickstarts careers - and turning down the one that tends to kill them.

And indeed, kickstart is an understatement in this case. By the age of 19, Jude had already etched 49 goals and assists from midfield for the German club, reaching (and scoring in) the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2021 and even getting one and a half feet in the door of ending Bayern Munich's 11-year run as champions of the Bundesliga. 

From day one even at Birmingham, Jude has been ahead of the pack; a phrase one isn't too likely to hear thrown into a discussion about Manchester United's recruitment team. So of course, no one is really shocked that Bellingham chose Real Madrid over a number of other suitors when on the move again this past summer. United were never serious in their approach, and now Jude will likely never play in Manchester; not in red, anyway.

This all says as much about Manchester United as it does about Bellingham himself. As far as we're aware, he never even blinked at the thought of coming. His sights were set on the Madridistas. And who can blame him?

In a way, Solskjær and Jude had the same honest assessment of the situation - United was not the place to go. As the ex-boss said himself, United is no longer in a position to go and sign the best young players in the world (Side note - but that comment hardly paints the young English talent that preceded Bellingham at Dortmund in the best light. Still no updates from that camp).

Jude Bellingham is one of the brightest, most exciting young talents in world football. He's the focal point of Real Madrid's midfield at the age of 20, well on his way to entering a conversation as a part of the highest tier of footballers in the world. And this same player has already rejected Manchester United twice. Not only is that symbolic of the state of the Mancunian club, but it is a testament to the intelligence of the youngster. Get used to his brilliance; he is here to stay.