Manchester City hoped to see a signed Erling Haaland shirt and talks with Pep Guardiola tempt Jude Bellingham into completing a 2023 transfer.

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• England star available in summer of 2023
• Premier League champions were keen
• Midfielder ended up heading to Spain

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The reigning Premier League champions reportedly made the England international a top target after agreeing to let former club captain Ilkay Gundogan leave for Barcelona as a free agent. City had not made a play for Bellingham when he left Birmingham for Borussia Dortmund in 2020 , but joined arch-rivals Manchester United in the hunt for a much sought-after signature three years later.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to the , City embarked on a “charm offensive” several months before the summer transfer window opened. When facing Dortmund in the group stage of the Champions League, they presented Bellingham with a shirt signed by his former BVB team-mate Haaland.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bellingham is said to have been invited to the City dressing room to accept that gift, while “face-to-face talks” were held with Guardiola as the Catalan boss endeavoured to convince the hottest of prospects that his team are “more complete and mature” than Real Madrid.

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  City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak was reportedly confident that a deal could be done for Bellingham, with Guardiola’s reputation expected to work in their favour – as the Premier League giants closed in on a historic treble.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News