Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland described teammate Jude Bellingham as ‘amazing’ after the England midfielder put Besiktas to the sword in the Champions League.
The 18-year-old scored Dortmund’s first goal in the 2-1 win in Istanbul, before then laying on the second for Haaland. The impressive teenager was later named player of the match by UEFA.
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Bellingham, who only turned 18 in June, is now the youngest player ever to score in a Champions League away match. He is also the youngest player to score in successive Champions League appearances after netting in last season’s quarter-final defeat to Manchester City.
Already, the ex-Birmingham prodigy is fast developing into one of the best midfielders in Europe.
“He was amazing,” Haaland said in a post-match pitch-side interview.
“He’s 18 – three years younger than me – it’s crazy! What can I say? He’s amazing. He is 18-years-old and plays so incredibly well. He is fantastic.”
Bellingham was coveted by Manchester United during his breakout year at Birmingham in 2019/20 – remarkably, he didn’t turn 17 until after that season had finished.
Nothing better than these nights!? pic.twitter.com/kdJQe5D11Z
— Jude Bellingham (@BellinghamJude) September 15, 2021
Despite the player choosing Dortmund, United have remained interest and have been in regular contact with the Bundesliga to cement their interest. It has been a similar story with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.
But while Haaland will likely to be on the move at the end of the season when his €75m release clause comes into effect, Dortmund do not expect to also be selling Bellingham next summer.
Bellingham is now under contract at Dortmund until 2025, with a new clause agreed on his 18th birthday that extended his previous deal and doubled his wages to the equivalent of around £100,000 per week.
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