England defender reveals how Liverpool duo convinced Jude Bellingham to sign for Merseyside giants

In a candid interview, England defender Conor Coady shed light on the behind-the-scenes efforts of Liverpool stars Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold during the World Cup. According to Coady, the pair made a concerted effort to persuade Jude Bellingham to join Liverpool, describing their tactics as “man-marking” the young midfielder.

Coady recounted, “At the World Cup, 100%, they man-marked him. I think them two tried it, and to be fair, you would, wouldn’t you! Let’s be honest if you’re at a club like Liverpool, of course you would.” This revelation paints a picture of the camaraderie and strategic thinking that happens off the pitch among teammates.

The rumors of Bellingham’s potential move were already swirling during the tournament. “You know he’s going to leave in the summer, which was quite common knowledge and there was all these clubs in for him,” Coady explained. The World Cup provided a unique setting for Henderson and Alexander-Arnold to make their pitch, using every opportunity to highlight the virtues of Liverpool.

Coady humorously described the scene at meal times: “At every meal time they were either side of him. They were sat one side, one the other. We’d all be sat there and they’d be talking about how good Liverpool is, Klopp is and all this sort of stuff.” The image of Henderson and Alexander-Arnold flanking Bellingham at every meal, extolling the virtues of Liverpool and its manager Jürgen Klopp, offers a glimpse into the relentless nature of recruitment in top-flight football.

While it remains to be seen if their efforts will bear fruit, Coady’s account underscores the lengths to which players will go to strengthen their clubs. The camaraderie within the England camp clearly extends beyond the national team, reflecting the interconnected nature of modern football.

Bellingham however chose to sign for Real Madrid last summer, winning the UEFA Champions League, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup trophies including being named the Golden Boy and La Liga Player of the Season.