Pep Guardiola sends Jude Bellingham message as Man City set to battle Liverpool for star | Football | Sport

Bellingham has become one of the most sought-after players in world football over the course of the last 12 months after a string of hugely impressive performances in the Bundesliga. He is viewed by many as a potentially generational midfield talent who can already be considered among the world’s best. 

He is hugely experienced for his age, having made over 100 professional appearances before even turning 20. He has regularly captained Dortmund over the course of this season and this was something Guardiola was keen to talk up ahead of the European fixture, a quality which he believes makes him a ‘whole package. 

City are one of the clubs believed to be interested in his signature and could be set to battle long-term Premier League rivals Liverpool in the transfer market. 

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“Dortmund is a perfect place for the young talented players to come,” the Sky Blues boss said in his pre-match press conference. “Maybe if Jude Bellingham had gone to City, United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea or Tottenham, the top teams in England, maybe he could not get the minutes that he has had and the best thing for a young player to be a better player is to play minutes. 

“I said when he was 17, it wasn’t just the quality, it was about he was shouting, leading, kicking, and going to the referee. I thought this guy was something special in terms of mentality. Now, at 19 years old, he is already one the captains of the team, and when that happens at 19 years old it is quite impressive.

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“The quality and skills, everyone knows it, but it’s not just about that. It’s about the whole package. He’s really good. He’s already in the national team playing with them at 19. That is quite impressive. We know the quality he has but we will try to impose our quality on the game and win the game.”  

There is more riding on tomorrow’s fixture for the hosts with City already qualified for the knockout stages of the competition. A win for Dortmund will see the Bundesliga side join them while should the away side claim any points they will guarantee top position in Group G with a game to spare. 

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