Bank breaker Bellingham thrives in Qatar

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Jude Bellingham has been one of the standout performers of the World Cup in Qatar. The 19-year-old midfielder is the best English teenager at an international tournament since an 18-year-old Wayne Rooney shocked the world in EURO 2004 and the best at a world cup since Michael Owen in 1998.  

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is set to be at the centre of one of the biggest bidding wars for a midfielder in history, with CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke stating that a fee in the region of 130 million pounds will be required to enter the conversation for the 19-year-old’s signature. Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid are the frontrunners all trying their best to convince the star to make the next step in his career.

Bellingham has been one of Gareth Southgate’s first names on the team sheet despite his age, setting the tone of their top scoring world cup campaign with their opening goal against Iran, and a dynamic drive into the final third giving a squared pass to Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, which broke the deadlock in the round of 16 against the African Champions Senegal. 

It is rare to find a midfielder that is as comfortable in their own half and under pressure as they are in the opposition’s final third, showing glimpses of English greats such as Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard. 

The attitude and maturity of Bellingham places him above the average 19-year-old, he does not feel the weight of a historically heavy England jersey where some of the greats of the game have failed to succeed under its expectations. 

Regardless of his future, Bellingham is 100 percent focused on Qatar, where he continues to prove mentality over maturity and that age is just a number.

Photo: Twitter/@sportbible

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Dylan Johnson