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Ex-England captain Robson: Bellingham benefited choosing Dortmund over Man Utd

Former Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson admits he's quickly been won over by Jude Bellingham.

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder scored in England's World Cup victory over Iran on Monday night.

Robson wrote for the Daily Mail: "Jude Bellingham was being talked about as a £100million player before this World Cup and we could be looking at Borussia Dortmund asking double that by the summer. No matter the price, they will not be short of takers.

"Every time I see Bellingham he impresses me. This can be his stage to prove himself a world-class performer.

"I was first alerted to Bellingham by a friend of mine at West Bromwich Albion, who said: 'You have got to go and watch this kid at Birmingham City.' He was 16 and more than holding his own in a Championship game.

"He played about 20 minutes the first time I watched so I went back and he was equally as good. I ended up watching quite a few Birmingham games because I wanted to see how he was developing.

"He was a throwback to what midfielders should be: all action. He could pass, tackle, head the ball, he had a goal in him and he was happy going box to box.

"His maturity comes from a solid family background. His father Mark was a police officer and non-league footballer so he keeps him grounded.

"Manchester United really wanted him but he chose Dortmund. Yet, I think that German discipline has benefited him. You see so many of the players at Dortmund or Bayern Munich come through the ranks with the right attitude and work ethic. Plus he has had invaluable first-team experience that he might not have got in England."

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