Real Madrid teammates congratulate Jude Bellingham after his goal against Manchester United in Houston. Photo: Getty Images/Tim Warner
It was a pretty brilliant run at an angle from the depths. Jude Bellingham saw the empty space and rushed towards it as Antonio Ruediger landed a point pass from above. Raphael Varane held the line hoping to play offside but Aaron Wan-Bissaka fell behind the rest of the Manchester United back line and suddenly Bellingham was on the losing side.
His first touch was flawless, taking the ball straight from where he casually lifted it over the advancing Andre Onana on the edge of the penalty area. Karim Benzema, a longtime Real Madrid center forward before his departure to Saudi Arabia last month, would have been proud to finish.
There's a reason Jude Bellingham was the most coveted midfielder in the world this summer, and the quality of his first a goal in Real Madrid's colors highlighted this and gave a tantalizing glimpse into a future that promises so much.
By the end of the first half, Lisandro Martínez decided the best way to stop the dynamic England midfielder was to go right through him. His outburst, which had hints of his rude challenge to Arsenal's Bukayo Saka four days earlier, prompted another warning and an angry reaction from Bellingham. «That's four times,» he told referee Lukasz Spala. On four occasions he felt that United were responsible for the fouls on him and wanted to have this fixed in the mind of the referee. passed Martinez and scored in a brilliant performance. Photo: AP/Michael Wyke
United fans who see Bellingham in full force should have a couple of thoughts. First, they would like a player of this quality to play in their midfield. It's like looking at a modern-day Bryan Robson and it's scary to think that the Stourbridge guy just turned 20 four weeks ago. But watching Bellingham, you also wonder why United, who were beaten 2-0 by Real Madrid here in Houston, don't throw everything they have to protect Harry Kane.
< p>The signing of Bellingham takes Real Madrid to a whole new level on the planet of smog. At an initial £88m, it already looks cheaper in a time of insane transfer fees. It changes the rules of the game.
Kane will have the same impact on United. That doesn't mean he will instantly take United to Real Madrid's level — the Madrid giants have talents like Vincius Jr., Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde that Erik ten Hag could only dream of — but he will provide a goal guarantee heads. another striker really available to them could match. Getting him signed should have been the top priority this summer.
United love to tell us all the time that they always want the biggest players, but that's not the case. Where are their ambitions? If that were true, they would have gone all out for Kane this summer.
Instead, they are looking for a 20-year-old striker who made fewer than 90 senior club appearances in Denmark, Austria and Italy and scored just nine goals in Serie A last season. Rasmus Høilund may have a bright career ahead of him, but he is a gamble — no one can say for sure otherwise — and what Ten Hag doesn't need right now is a gamble, given the paramount importance given to finding someone who can score the ball. online permanently.
Rasmus Hoylund has yet to establish himself as an elite striker. Photo: Getty Images/Francesco Scaccianoce
What's more, Hoylund could be worth just £30-40m less than Kane. United consider Kane £100m overvalued, but by what barometer? United have just paid £55m, rising to £60m for midfielder Mason Mount, who has a year left on his Chelsea contract and still has a lot to prove. Kane is as proven as can be.
With Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, the England captain is now the best centre-forward in Europe. His price tag, even with 12 months left on his contract with Tottenham, is more than a fair reflection of his value. He has been strong in the Premier League and European competitions for nine consecutive seasons. Last season, in a miserable career-long Spurs team, he scored 32 goals in 49 games.
And what, on Friday he turns 30? Kane could stay at the top for another three, four or five years. He never relied on speed, his scoring instinct is as sharp as ever, his passes are among the best in the Premier League. It's not the same as bringing 33-year-old Edinson Cavani, 34-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic, or 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford.
Harry Kane would guarantee the goals United need. Photo: Getty Images/Roslan Rahman
It looks like United have convinced themselves that Tottenham won't sell. But is this just an excuse? They know that Spurs owner Joe Lewis told his chairman Daniel Levy that he should sell Kane this summer if he can't convince him to sign a new deal and doesn't want such a valuable asset to cut his contract short and walk away with nothing. after 12 months. And what, this Levi is hard to deal with? Since when has trying to sign a top player from a rival club been a simple exercise?
It must be difficult, but United should at least give Tottenham something very serious to think about this summer. The idea that they could just stand by and let Bayern Munich have free access to such a prized scorer and fantastic character is unthinkable for a club hungry for the kind of improvement in front of the net that Kane would drive better than anyone else. could actually sign this summer.
Yes, we don't have an endless pot of cash, but there are enough players they can sell to fill the coffers, and if they hadn't overpaid so much for the Brazilian winger Anthony last summer — a player they originally valued at £55m but ended up paying £85m for him — then maybe he'd have even more wiggle room right now.
Real Madrid knew exactly what they were getting with Bellingham. United should treat Kane the same way.
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