Chelsea’s Regrettable Missed Opportunity: Not Signing Real Madrid superstar

Chelsea’s recent struggles and decline can be traced back to a series of mistakes in their decision-making, both before and after the change in ownership. One of those significant blunders was the club’s reluctance to sign Jude Bellingham, who was available for a relatively modest fee. Surprisingly, even a manager as esteemed as Frank Lampard had expressed a strong desire to bring Bellingham to Stamford Bridge during his first tenure as Chelsea’s manager.

Lampard revealed on the Obi One Podcast that he had been eager to secure Bellingham’s services but encountered resistance from the club’s higher-ups due to the £20 million transfer fee associated with the then-young player. In hindsight, this decision appears to be a monumental mistake that Chelsea must now rue.

Bellingham left Birmingham City as a 17-year-old to join Borussia Dortmund for an initial transfer fee of around £25 million. His departure was such a significant event that Birmingham City retired his number 22 shirt.

During his time at Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham’s growth was remarkable. He was named Bundesliga Player of the Season, and in the summer, he made a staggering €134 million move to Real Madrid.

Any doubts about Bellingham’s potential success in the Spanish capital have been thoroughly dispelled. He has had an extraordinary start to life at Real Madrid and is on the path to becoming a central figure at the club. If he continues on this trajectory, numerous trophies and Ballon d’Or awards could be in his future. It’s astonishing to think that just a few years ago, Chelsea hesitated to sign him for a relatively modest £20 million fee, missing out on a golden opportunity.