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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Stephen Killen & Will Freeman

Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand makes Jude Bellingham transfer prediction amid Man City links

Rio Ferdinand has lauded Jude Bellingham after his brilliant performance for England against Senegal in their World Cup last-16 clash on Sunday night.

The 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder produced an assist for Jordan Henderson's opener before a fantastic burst from deep inside the England half started the move which ended in Harry Kane scoring the second goal. He did not score, but produced a performance which will have captured the eyes of the world.

Bellingham remains contracted to Borussia Dortmund but has a reported asking price of £130m which would make him one of the most expensive players of all time. A host of clubs including Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid are believed to be in the running to sign the star.

ALSO READ: Man United might only have one last chance at signing Jude Bellingham

Having captained the Bundesliga club on multiple occasions already, it looks as though the sky is the limit for Bellingham and Rio Ferdinand expressed his admiration for the player, saying that it will be interesting what his next move following such impressive performances.

The former United captain and pundit said on his FIVE YouTube channel: "Bellingham yesterday, what he done, I've not seen a 19-year-old young midfielder come into a tournament and absolutely dominate defensively, retrieving the ball but then deciding the game with the right decision, right pass at the right time. It's ridiculous. He's an animal, animal.

"There's no midfielders for England that I've seen in my lifetime doing what he's doing, running Champions League games at the top level and running World Cup games for England, it's a joke. He's anything he wants to be, I've spoken to England coaches who had him in youth teams, he's as good as he is a defensive midfielder as he is attacking midfielder, he can do it all.

"It'll be interesting to see how his career pans out. Where's he going? What's his price now? What is Jude Bellingham's price now? Where does he go now?"

Despite having reportedly been close to joining United in the summer of 2020 before his Dortmund move, Ferdinand tipped the former Birmingham City youngster to join rivals Man City before a move to Real Madrid later in his career.

He added: "Pep Guardiola's signed a new deal, if they don't win the Champions League this year, he goes there with a mindset 'I am going to be the man that brings you the Champions League' that's how I think he's moving, that's how I think he rolls.

"I think he will [go to City], I think he'll say he's got a couple of mates there, England boys, 'I can go Madrid in five years'. I think he thinks 'listen man, I'm a superstar, I want to go win the league and the Premier League because I'm an English-born boy and then I'll go Madrid and do the same there in a couple of years. The mad thing is he's got the chance, the great thing is he has the absolute choice and pick of what he does. There will be clubs queuing up."

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