Gary Neville congratulates Jude Bellingham for rejecting Manchester United

His comments came in light of Jude Bellingham's decision to reject a move to Manchester United in favour of Borussia Dortmund back in 2020. 

Neville's critical stance reflects on how the once-dominant English club has struggled to maintain its allure among the world's best players.

Jude Bellingham, at the age of 17, made a significant career choice by turning down Manchester United and instead opting for Borussia Dortmund. 

This decision, priced at £25 million, led him to extraordinary success in Germany, where his performances earned him a staggering £115 million move to Real Madrid. 

In LaLiga, Bellingham has already made a substantial impact, scoring 13 goals in 17 games, much to the delight of the Bernabeu crowd. 

His rise has also been significant on the international stage, where he has become a key figure for England, accumulating 27 caps before the Euros.

Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, as reported by the Sun, didn't mince words about Manchester United's current situation. 

He stated, “I’ve spoken to a couple of players before they’ve come here and said ‘you’ll never regret it, it’s a magic football club’. But I have to say looking back, it looks like pretty poor advice with what’s happened to them since they’ve come and it’s really sad.” 

Neville pondered on what could have been for Bellingham had he chosen Manchester United, questioning if the young talent would have thrived in the current environment and culture at the club.

The decline in Manchester United's allure is further exemplified by their recent performances under Erik ten Hag, with only one win in six Premier League matches. 

High-profile signings like Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, and Mason Mount have struggled to make a significant impact. The case of Jadon Sancho, who returned to Dortmund after a fallout with Ten Hag, further highlights the challenges at United.