While I can understand why any young footballer would choose Madrid over us because of their Hollywood/ galactico policy, I think at this point it reflects badly on the player.
Working with Pep v Ancelotti? Our squad v theirs?
It’s understandable that a player may take the opportunity to go there when they get the chance because it might not arise again but there’s tons of young players who’ve been burnt by moves there. I think it’s better to back your talents at the right place now. If you’re good enough Madrid will always want a new shiny thing.
I accept that this sounds like a “didn’t fancy her anyway sort of thing” and I definitely have blue tinted glasses but I wouldn’t want any player that would choose Madrid over City at this point in time. It’s brand and dollar signs over brilliant coaching and genuine development. We are better run club, in a better league with a better coach and structure and with brilliant long term planning.
Mate, he's a 17 year old Brummie with zero connection or affinity to Manchester or City, apart from his England colleagues.
He's chosen the biggest & greatest club in football history who have Camavinga, Tchouameni, Valverde, Rodrygo & Vini Jnr in their ranks.
Add the possibility of Kane & working under the most successful CL manager in history, at the most successful CL club in history, I can see why he's viewed this as Madrid now & if it doesn't work out, at 17 years old he'll still have many suitors in the Premier League & around Europe, with the majority of his career ahead of him.
Neither Bellingham or City have ever publicly mentioned each other, so no one really knew the depth of contact, conversations or agreements between both parties, outside of both parties.
Bellingham to City won't define City. Bellingham to Real WILL define Bellingham. It's an opportunity which may never present itself again, so he's taken it.
It's hard, but many of us are extolling the virtues of City through Sky Blue tinted specs. Bellingham looks at football through his own eyes & has made a decision which he believes best suits him right now.
As always City will move onto other targets, OR perhaps it's these other targets we've been concentrating on all along? Who knows... \0/
Personally I'm gutted, but having never gotten over the loss of RVP, Hazard, Di Rossi, Isco & Messi x 4, I learned a LOOOOOOONG time ago not to take transfer speculation with anything more than a pinch of salt, or to pass it on until I see the player sat next to Txiki, holding a biro in one hand & a City shirt in the other.
It's the hope that kills! Lol :-)
