Real Madrid’s Transfer of Jude Bellingham Revealed by Dortmund President
In a recent interview with Spanish outlet Diario AS, Borussia Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke acknowledged that Real Madrid is the clear favorite heading into the Champions League final on Saturday. This sentiment is reflected in the high-profile transfer of Jude Bellingham last summer. Watzke emphasized the club’s commitment to striking a balance between sporting success and financial stability. “We are not building castles in the air. Everything is based on a very solid foundation, and despite our financial limitations, we find ourselves once again in a Champions League final,” he stated.
Watzke resignedly accepted the reality that European powerhouses often poach Dortmund’s key players. “It’s not that we wanted to lose Lewandowski, Götze, Haaland, or Bellingham. But it is evidence of the fantastic work we have been doing on a sporting level for years. If you want these players to stay, you have to quadruple their salaries. But what happens then? You have to elevate everyone to a higher level, or else you risk unrest in the locker room. That’s why we sell,” he explained.
The sale of players like Bellingham serves as a crucial revenue stream for the Bundesliga top club. This financial strategy facilitated Bellingham’s move to Real Madrid, Dortmund’s opponent in the Champions League final. According to Watzke, the negotiations for the transfer were not arduous. “Not at all. I always advised Jude to consider Real Madrid if he wanted to leave us. He listened to me. This is the biggest club in the world,” he remarked.
Despite reports of a €103 million transfer fee, Watzke refuted this figure, suggesting that the actual amount exceeded expectations. “If it had been ‘only’ €103 million, we would have negotiated poorly. It was much more,” he disclosed.
The lucrative transfer of Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid underscores Dortmund’s ability to develop and attract top talent, even if it means parting ways with key players to sustain the club’s competitive edge on the European stage.