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EXCLUSIVE: Jobe Bellingham issues stark response to critics of Dortmund move and bid to be his own man
There have been a number of new faces on show at this summer's FIFA Club World Cup, following their moves during the additional transfer window ahead of the tournament.
Manchester City have paraded their quartet of new faces, while Trent Alexander-Arnold made his bow for Real Madrid following his move from Liverpool. However, there's been particular interest in Borussia Dortmund's latest recruit, Jobe Bellingham.
The England Under-21 star signed for the Germans earlier this month from Sunderland in a deal worth nearly £30 million and made his debut as a substitute in Dortmund's goalless draw with Fluminense, live on DAZN.
The move represents the next step in Bellingham's career, having graduated through the Birmingham City first team before moving to the North-East and helping the Black Cats win promotion back to the Premier League.
The decision to choose the Bundesliga side as his next destination and follow in his older brother, Jude's, footsteps did raise some eyebrows, after all, Jobe has always insisted he wants to be his own man.
However, he exclusively told DAZN that although he's aware of how it looks and admits he had reservations about moving to Dortmund in the past, he now believes it's the right place for him.
"I don't really care how it looks, but it might look a bit contradictory to some people," Bellingham said.
"I spoke to Vasco and Yanni. They came over to England after the play-off final, and I was perhaps being biased against Dortmund for a very long time, because I have anxieties and fears and you want to be your own man, but I don't think I should let those stop me from making the right decision.
And the line that convinced me was, 'it's not about being different. It's about being right'. So for me, it was about choosing the right path, not necessarily a different one.
"I don't think my path has been the same as Jude's at all. but, it meant if the right path meant signing for Borussia Dortmund, as so many top young players, not just me and my brother, then why would I not do it?
"It would be a big mistake to sign for another club just because Jude's played here and it didn't go well. So either way, there are risks on both sides. There are pros and cons to every club.
"I did have a lot of time to think about it. And I know the fans and I as well were impatient. But my head and my heart and that's all that matters. My perception is the only one that matters at the end of the day. So that's what I chose."
Now he's arrived at Dortmund, he's been given an instant opportunity to get to know his teammates and been thrown right into the deep end, thanks to the Club World Cup.
Niko Kovic's side are in Group E after earning a point in their opening game. They face Mamelodi Sundowns on Sunday before wrapping up against Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea.
Bellingham admits it's been a bit of a whirlwind, but it's given him a chance to embed himself into the squad and enjoy a pre-season before even getting to pre-season.
"It felt a little bit like surreal, a bit strange to be honest," he admitted.
"Because obviously it's in the United States, so it just feels really different. But it's definitely a really cool feeling.
"A lot of people I've been speaking to, just family and friends, they say, oh, it must be difficult that you've gone out there so soon, but I see it as a massive benefit before the season starts and even before pre-season.
"It's like a pre, pre-pre-season really, but a big opportunity and a big new unique tournament. So yeah, it's really cool actually.
"And it's really special because I get to come away, and everyone at the club gets to know me more before the season starts. So yeah, it's a really good opportunity."
(Getty Images)
An opportunity to carve his own path into Dortmund folklore, and he'll be doing it without the famous Bellingham name on the back of his shirt.
Eagle-eyes fans have been quick to jump on he face that it's 'Jobe' that will don the famous yellow and black jersey, but the younger Bellingham is quick to quash any notion that the decision had any deep thought into it.
In fact, it was more something the 20-year-old liked the sound of, going back to when he first joined Sunderland.
Adding, "Obviously it started when I first signed for Sunderland. I may have thought about it a few times. I thought, yeah, that would be quite cool, but only when people like brought it up to me. I never thought about it like spontaneously on my own.
"Then, someone who's quite special to me, a coach that I had at Sunderland and at Birmingham when I was a kid, said, #why don't you do that at Sunderland?# And just because I was young, I thought it would be cool to have my own name on the back of my shirt.
"So yeah, it was more that than anything. I wasn't really trying to have a deeper like meaning behind it.
"I think it's quite unique and it's quite cool, and it's something that I enjoy having. It just allows me to show that I'm making my own path."
It's a path that's beginning in the United States with hopes of a first piece of silverware, but where will it lead him? Only Jobe can show us that way.
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