Defender reveals how Liverpool tried to convince Bellingham to join before Real Madrid move | OneFootball

Leicester City defender Conor Coady shared an interesting story about how former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and current defender Trent Alexander-Arnold tried their hardest to convince Jude Bellingham to join Liverpool.

They used a clever approach, often sitting on either side of him during meals. While chatting about the great things Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool had to offer, they hoped to sway his decision.

“I think Trent and Henderson tried [to convince] Jude Bellingham. At the World Cup, 100%,” Coady told BBC Sport.

“To be fair, of course, you would. They’d sit on either side of him during mealtime, talking about how good Klopp and Liverpool were,” he added.

Despite their best efforts, however, Bellingham chose a different path. Last summer, he signed with Real Madrid for an initial fee of €103 million. This amount could rise by 30% to around €133.9 million due to additional performance-based clauses.

In his first season with Real Madrid, Bellingham showcased his incredible talent, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists.

How did Madrid beat Liverpool?

Jude Bellingham rejected many offers to join Real Madrid. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

The journey to sign Bellingham was not straightforward for Real Madrid. They faced strong competition from Premier League giants like Liverpool and Manchester City.

In fact, at one point, Real Madrid had reasons to feel doubtful about their chances. This is because Borussia Dortmund had set a hefty price tag of €150 million, which seemed beyond what Madrid was willing to pay.

Although the relationship between the two clubs was excellent on both personal and professional levels, Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, thought the cost was too high.

Despite these financial concerns, Real Madrid did not give up. They remained in the race, even though some within the club were not very hopeful. Behind the scenes, chief scout Juni Calafat played a crucial role.

Calafat, along with his team, kept working discreetly to keep Real Madrid in the running for Bellingham. They made several trips to Dortmund and London, meeting with Bellingham’s representatives to discuss the potential transfer.

Their perseverance paid off. Despite the high asking price and the stiff competition, Real Madrid managed to secure Bellingham’s signature and upon joining, he quickly proved to be a valuable asset, becoming a standout player and a key contributor to the team’s success.