Rio Ferdinand has seemingly expressed doubts as to whether Jude Bellingham would want to sign for Liverpool in the summer.
The Reds have been intensely linked with the Borussia Dortmund star, with Real Madrid another consistently-cited suitor in the transfer race for the 19-year-old (as per Diario AS).
The two clubs vying for his services met in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side winning 1-0 at the Bernabeu to complete a comprehensive 6-2 aggregate victory.
Ferdinand was on punditry duty for BT Sport for that game and, after full-time, he was discussing Bellingham’s future with his fellow analysts.
The ex-Manchester United defender said: “I just think if he’s watching that tonight, he’s sitting there thinking if Real Madrid and Liverpool are in for me, there’s only one place I can go, and they [LFC] don’t finish [in the] Champions League as well maybe.
“As a player, you look at it cold and go ‘I see more trophies here’.”
Viewed in the context of this result, the ex-Red Devils man seems quite doubtful about Bellingham opting for a move to Anfield rather than the Bernabeu.
It’s not what Liverpool fans will want to hear, but hopefully that result alone won’t make the decision for him and the Reds can still make a convincing enough case to persuade him to come to Merseyside.
You can see the full exchange between the BT Sport pundits below courtesy of @btsportfootball on Twitter:
"He must be thinking, 'if Real Madrid and Liverpool are in for me, there's only one place to go!'" 😳
Is Liverpool still a realistic option for Jude Bellingham next season after their recent form…? 🤔
🎙️ @rioferdy5 | @petercrouch | @themichaelowen | @mrjakehumphrey pic.twitter.com/2AkzmfZhjw
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 15, 2023
Is camel face Rio Ferdinand an advisor to class players now, he should worry about his own ex club instead of havi g to constantly go on about liverpool, of course he seen the 7-0 comi g !!
Well, it is just his opinion, and no matter where Jude Bellingham is next season, I am sure that Mr Ferdinand will have something tom say.
At the end of the day, I care nothing for him or his opinion anyway.
Rio your old club has won 1 trophy in 6 years and played Thursday night football for years and still signed great players so it can happen your just anti liverpool cause your a Manc that’s football for me Bellingham will have spoken to klopp and his family for me he can be the next Steven Gerrard and captain of liverpool fc look at the players that have come to liverpool klopp will build a new team around the players that he wants to keep and liverpool will be back look at all the hype cause liverpool are having a bad season man utd had 6 bad seasons liverpool will be back quicker then the 6 years of bad form that Manchester United had watch
In fairness as much as I hate rio the turncoat he’d sell out his own mother that man, but he’s right why would Bellingham want to come to us realistically when even scum utd are a more attractive package let alone real, citeh, even god damned Chelsea we cannot financially compete as good as klopp is he can’t keep competing if fsg don’t spend big and revamp this aging tired squad we’ll be lucky to get Europe season after next.
In fairness as much as I hate rio the turncoat he’d sell out his own mother that man, but he’s right why would Bellingham want to come to us realistically when even scum utd are a more attractive package let alone real, citeh, even god damned Chelsea we cannot financially compete as good as klopp is he can’t keep competing if fsg don’t spend big and revamp this aging tired squad we’ll be lucky to get Europe season after next.