Kevin de Bruyne, Rodri and Erling Haaland, each holding a trophy from Manchester City’s treble. There is an alternative future in which a supersized picture of him would stare out, where he could find himself next to Rodri and De Bruyne on a wall and in a midfield.
City wanted him last year. They were not alone in that. Liverpool did too, before bowing out of the bidding. And yet, for one of the most coveted players on the planet, the decision was actually a simple one.
“I had conversations with other teams but when Madrid came in it was a no-brainer really,” he said. “The size of the club, the project, the plan going forward, the chance to play with such amazing players: I just jumped at it. That’s why I made my decision.”
It is one City may have cause to regret. The one who got away could end their spell as champions of Europe. They could not get Bellingham, or anyone like him. Their midfield additions instead were Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes: neither remotely of Bellingham’s calibre, though their combined cost of £75m is not far off the £88m Real Madrid paid, which could rise to £115m. The probability is that each will begin on the bench when Bellingham lines up at the Etihad Stadium in visiting colours: he did so last season, too, scoring for Borussia Dortmund in a group-stage defeat. A Champions League quarter-final for Real, with a tie intriguingly poised at 3-3, feels an altogether bigger occasion again.
Denne historien er fra April 17, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 17, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
NFL faces compelling decision as London Games return with Jets vs Vikings
The London Games are back with perhaps the finest NFL quarterback of the last decade and the highest-paid wide receiver in the league set to feature.
Jota seals Liverpool win but talisman Alisson limps off
Alisson Becker remains the king of Selhurst Park, but if he and Virgil van Dijk showed what Liverpool’s title bid will be built on this season, a win at Crystal Palace was perhaps also another indication of why the Reds spent part of this summer looking at the future.
Kovacic's new eye for goal hides Man City's fragility
No prizes for guessing who Manchester City’s top scorer is. Yet the identity of the man second in their standings comes as more of a surprise.
Dominant Saka shows he can lead Arsenal to the title
A classic case of a goal being the worst thing a lesser team could do. Southampton’s joy in Cameron Archer giving them a shock lead only served to awaken Arsenal, who went from a very flat display to one where they came at the visiting side from all angles.
Taliban profits as flights return to Afghan airspace after Iran missile attack
The number of international flights passing through Talibancontrolled Afghan airspace reached a record high this week in the aftermath of Iran's missile attack against Israel.
Villagers torch police camp after claim girl, 9, was raped then murdered in India
A local police camp in India was set on fire by a mob yesterday, just hours after the alleged rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl came to light.
Israel expands airstrikes to bombard northern Lebanon
More than one million people flee homes as fate of man thought to be replacement for Hezbollah leader unclear
Palace 'checking in daily' on teenage cancer patient who shared a hug with princess
A teenage cancer patient given weeks to live is being checked on daily by Kensington Palace after she met the Prince and Princess of Wales last week, her mother has revealed.
Parkrun celebrates 20 years
Event has grown from 13 runners to cover 2,500 locations
Hurricane Kirk aftermath to batter England and Wales
Britain is bracing for the aftermath of a hurricane currently intensifying in the Atlantic Ocean after the Met Office warned its influence will create a period of unsettled weather.