For a base revenue of almost 30 million euros, Jobe Bellingham switched from AFC Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund about two weeks ago. In order to convince him of BVB, Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke had traveled to England, although he had already withdrawn from the sporting matters.
How important he can become for Borussia Dortmund in the future, Jobe Bellingham indicated last Saturday at the club World Cup group game against Mamelodi Sundowns. In his first starting eleven mission for Borussia Dortmund, the 19-year-old scored his first goal for the meantime 3-1 for his colors (4: 3).
The fact that the young Englishman ended up with the black and yellow is particularly due to BVB Managing Director Hans-Joachim Watzke. The latter had already withdrawn from the operational business, but was always open to a back door, as he now told the “Sport Bild”.
“This is exactly how I imagined my role when I gave the sports responsibility. I can serve the club if it has the feeling that it is necessary. At that moment it was the case that it was carried out that it would be good if I talked to Jobe,” said the 66-year-old.
So the long-time BVB maker traveled to Sunderland to convince the younger brother of the former Dortmund star Jude Bellingham from the step to Borussia.
Watzke about “very long and trusting conversation”
“We talked about what is the right way for him,” said Watzke against the specialist magazine, what he had said to Jobe Bellingham and his parents in the conversation in Sunderland.
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“He might be concerned about being compared with his brother. I told him that you had to go the right way yourself, regardless of who he went before. That was the core of a very long and very trusting conversation. Jobe said yes afterwards.
Around a week after the trip to Sunderland, the Youngster Watzke then personally called to inform him about his decision to actually switch to BVB.