Liverpool transfer target and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham has been given a new role by manager Edin Terzic.
The 19-year-old has been appointed to the clubs’ leadership group, in which he is now the third choice for captaincy at Signal Iduna Park.
This was confirmed on Friday as the Englishman skippered the club against Villarreal once Marco Reus and Mats Hummels had departed the field.
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Terzic, who was caretaker manager of the club in Bellingham’s first campaign, believed it was a huge show of faith in the youngster.
“The fact that Jude Bellingham wore the captain’s armband towards the end of the game is a sign."
"He will be our new third captain,” Terzic said of the decision.
Liverpool’s interest in the former Birmingham midfielder is all-but-public, with many a pundit earmarking Anfield as his next destination once he leaves Germany.
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Jurgen Klopp even said earlier this window that the ‘only thing wrong’ with Jude Bellingham is that he is unavailable this summer.
It has been reported by reputable journalists such as Fabrizio Romano that Liverpool approached BVB in June for his services, but were rejected after they had already sold Erling Haaland to Manchester City.
The fact he is being given such a senior role before turning 20 is yet another reason why Klopp and his staff must be pursuing him.It is well-known that the German likes leaders and good characters within his squad.
Bellingham himself, speaking to Dortmund’s matchday magazine in May, said: “You have to earn the right to be a leader, especially in a changing room with so many big players, big leaders, big characters."
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"I run hard for my teammates, I try and put myself in the way to make tackles."
"I know there are still better ways of communicating. Sometimes I get too frustrated and that’s something I will continue to learn. But it’s a real pleasure to have that responsibility within the team and long may it continue.”
Topics: Jude Bellingham, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund