Ex-Blues manager makes a transfer commitment to Birmingham City. produced by Jude Bellingham

Pep Clotet, the former manager of Birmingham City, confirmed to the Coaches’ Voice that Jude Bellingham had guaranteed him he would stay with Blues for the entire 2019–20 season.

The Midlands team hasn’t had many memorable experiences during the past ten years; at one point, the club even faced relegation to League One.

Bellingham, who lit up St Andrew’s with his performances as a teenager, was one notable exception, demonstrating from the age of 16 that he could contribute to the first team.

Unfortunately for Blues, they were aware that, given his talent and promise, they would only be able to keep him for a limited time.

Many Birmingham fans were hoping the England star would stay as long as possible because he was a local native.

To whom did Jude Bellingham make a commitment?

Vultures were undoubtedly circling as he continued to thrive during the 2019–20 season, and Clotet was concerned that one of his brightest players would depart the team during the 2020 January transfer window.

Following their defeat against Leeds United, in which Bellingham scored, they were in 17th place going into the winter window.

The Englishman has shown to be a key player despite his age, and Clotet may have been concerned about relegation if he had lost the young midfielder in the middle of the season.

When the two spoke, Bellingham assuaged Clotet’s worries regarding a probable winter transfer.

In the midst of all the news, rumors, and meetings every day, Clotet wrote this in his article for the Coaches’ Voice: “I was worried about him. I enquired after him to see how he was doing in order to gauge his mental state.

He was once more very mature and upfront with me. “Coach, take it easy. I won’t leave in the middle of the season to embark on a new journey. I’m quite content where I am, and I’ll play out the season.

“I stopped caring what I read in the press all the time after that. Jude would uphold his promise, I knew that.

The midfielder signed a summer transfer to Borussia Dortmund after finishing the 2019–20 season with four goals and two assists in 41 league games.

He later went on to play for the current Real Madrid team as well as England, representing the Three Lions in the most recent World Cup.

Was Jude Bellingham’s choice to remain at Birmingham City for the 2019–20 season the right one?

Bellingham may have been forced into pushing for a relocation elsewhere in January.

At his stage, it would have been challenging for him to adjust to a new team mid-season, particularly if he had moved abroad.

This is the main justification for his decision to wait until the conclusion of the season, and the fact that he stuck around meant that he had more time to grow in a familiar setting.

That undoubtedly aided his growth and allowed him to join Dortmund’s first team right immediately as a regular first-team player.

In addition, by staying put rather than departing in the middle of the season, he was able to win over St Andrew’s fans who had forgiven him for his summer transfer. The supporters could have felt otherwise if he had left in January.