The then-teenage sensation had only played at Birmingham for a single season but had the eyes of Europe on him. It became clear he’d leave St Andrew’s and United hoped they could be his destination, inviting Bellingham and his family to the training ground to meet the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Despite being given the grand tour they opted for a switch to Germany, by no means the conventional route. Bellingham’s family though thought that a move to Dortmund would provide their son with a quicker pathway to the top, given how young players were given an opportunity in the Bundesliga.
United legend Bryan Robson, who also featured on his initial tour in Manchester, bemoaned the fact they missed out but has told the Daily Mail: "The maturity and discipline he had to show surviving as a young boy playing and living in Germany gave him invaluable life skills, ones that this summer the family felt had equipped him for a move to a club as huge as Real Madrid.
Worst rated performances in the Premier League this season:
Tim Ream vs Brentford - 4.45 Ameen Al Dakhil vs Tottenham - 4.51 Calvin Bassey vs Arsenal - 4.70 Bernd Leno vs Man City - 4.78 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐣𝐤 𝐯𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 - 𝟒.𝟖𝟕
A football manager who gambled nearly £1m, including bets on his own sport, has secretly been let off by the FA.
The manager had 8 betting accounts and admitted being a gambling addict in evidence. The case also involved two former footballers being accused of blackmailing him.
Erik ten Hag will not back down over his demand for an apology from Jadon Sancho, if Sancho refuses, he is risking his long-term future at the club, sources have told ESPN.
Ben Chilwell on his Top 5 Premier League full-backs of all time:
Ashley Cole
Gary Neville
Patrice Evra
Andy Robertson
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Photo confirmation of Kyle Walker’s new three-year contract at Man City. 
Worst rated performances in the Premier League this season:
Tim Ream vs Brentford - 4.45
Ameen Al Dakhil vs Tottenham - 4.51
𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐣𝐤 𝐯𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 - 𝟒.𝟖𝟕
