JOBE VS JUDE: COMPARING THE BELLINGHAM BROTHERS' FIRST SEASONS AT BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Borussia Dortmund rejects January signings to support Jobe Bellingham. Read about the locker room drama and Pascal Gross's exit.
Even though Jude Bellingham had a rough start in Germany after his summer transfer, Borussia Dortmund is standing behind him.
The 20-year-old midfielder joined the Bundesliga team after his brother Jude, moving from Sunderland for £32 million this summer.
Jude spent three amazing seasons in Dortmund, scoring 24 goals and assisting 25 times in 132 games before he went to Real Madrid.
Jobe, on the other hand, had a tougher beginning, scoring only once in his 27 appearances so far.
He's only started five Bundesliga games and was kicked out of his last game the previous month when Dortmund tied 1-1 with Freiburg.
But Dortmund's leaders are said to be supporting Bellingham because they think the England Under-21 midfielder will get better.
According to the German newspaper Bild, Dortmund's bosses decided not to buy a central midfielder in January.
This is due to Dortmund agreeing to sell Pascal Gross back to Brighton, which was announced on Friday.
The report says that Dortmund's CEO Lars Ricken, sporting director Sebastian Kehl, and head coach Niko Kovac chose to support Bellingham so he can find his form and own the position.
They see Bellingham as a training champion and believe he will perform well on the field once he feels more sure of himself.
Bellingham joined Dortmund before the FIFA Club World Cup last summer and scored his first goal against the South African team Sundowns in his second game.
At the start of this season, there were reports of a disagreement between Bellingham's father, Mark, and the club's officials.
Mark, who is also his son's advisor, reportedly had an emotional talk with Kehl after Jobe was taken out at halftime in Dortmund's 3-3 tie with St. Pauli.
He was said to be unhappy about the substitution and the team's general performance.
Dortmund's bosses are giving Bellingham their full support after choosing not to make a January move for a midfielder after selling Pascal Gross to Brighton.
Bild added that Mark Bellingham wanted to meet with Kovac directly and was very open about his opinion.
Some Dortmund players noticed how emotional he was, with his anger coming from Jobe's early substitution and the team's poor performance.
Kehl later reminded everyone that the locker room is only for players and staff.
He said, We are all sad about yesterday's result. The active area at our club is for players, coaches, and officials, not families and advisors. This won't happen again. We have made this clear to everyone involved.
The midfielder came to Dortmund in June after helping Sunderland get promoted from the Championship and signed a five-year deal.
His transfer fee, which started at £27.8m plus extra payments, set a new record for the Wearside club.
Even with the family connection, Jobe said that he didn't come to Germany just to follow his older brother Jude.
CARLO ANCELOTTI ISSUES TWO-MONTH WORLD CUP ULTIMATUM TO SANTOS STAR NEYMAR
Carlo Ancelotti confirms Neymar has two months to prove his fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Read the full Selecao update.
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Everyone’s talking about Neymar again as the 2026 World Cup edges closer. It’s the same old debate: does he still have a spot with Brazil? But this time there’s real hope on the table. Carlo Ancelotti’s left the door open for Neymar to make the cut. Even though Neymar hasn’t made the latest squads, he’s obviously still on the minds of the Selecao coaches.
Here’s the situation: Neymar's been battling injuries since he tore his ACL. He missed the season’s first 10 games after knee surgery last December. He got back on the field, but fitness issues and a suspension meant he still watched from the sidelines quite a bit. Still, Ancelotti isn’t ruling him out. In an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti emphasised Neymar’s reputation but also made something very clear: if Neymar wants the World Cup, he needs to earn it.
Talent isn't a question; nobody doubts Neymar’s skill. What matters for Ancelotti is being fit. No exceptions, no matter how big the star. “Neymar can come back. I’ve said it before, and it’s simple: only physically ready players get called up,” Ancelotti said flat-out. “His recovery from the knee injury is going well; he’s scoring again. He just needs to keep pushing and get fitter. He’s headed in the right direction.”
With 79 goals in 128 matches, Neymar has shaped Brazil’s football history. Ancelotti gets that fans want to see Neymar try one more time for the one trophy he’s never won. “Neymar belongs to Brazil’s football story. He’s hugely talented, so obviously people hope he’ll help us win the next World Cup. Right now, he’s under assessment not just by the CBF but by me, too. He’s got two months left to show he has what it takes for the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Neymar’s chance to prove himself is coming fast, with big matches for Santos ahead. He’s expected to start this Saturday when they face Atlético-MG at Vila Belmiro. If Neymar stays healthy and sharp, that final World Cup dream is still alive.
BRAD FRIEDEL LABELS WESTON MCKENNIE THE "MOST TALENTED" USMNT PLAYER OVER PULISIC
Brad Friedel sparks debate by naming Weston McKennie as more talented than Christian Pulisic for the USMNT in 2026.
Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel doesn’t think Christian Pulisic is the top American player right now. In his eyes, Weston McKennie is the most talented option Mauricio Pochettino's got, even though Pulisic usually gets all the attention as “Captain America.”
Pulisic does have his fans, but he hasn’t scored for the national team since 2024 and was pretty quiet during the last international break. The US had a rough time, losing 5-2 to Belgium and 2-0 to Portugal. Those friendlies were supposed to get the team ready for big opponents at the 2026 World Cup, but honestly, they just brought up even more doubts. McKennie was one of the few players who actually looked up for it, and Friedel is absolutely convinced he’s the best talent the US has right now.
The team was missing some key names, too. Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tyler Adams were all out. Richards made it back for the Portugal game, but Adams’ absence in midfield was impossible to ignore. Friedel says people are making too much of these recent defeats. He thinks you have to judge the team on how they do in big tournaments, especially this summer. Still, he admits Adams is the one who keeps everyone connected, and when he’s out there, it makes McKennie better, which ends up making life easier for Pulisic.
Pochettino has a headache picking his squad for the World Cup. He’s still not set on his goalkeeper, his defence, his midfield, or even the attack. According to Friedel, no matter who fills those spots, the USMNT’s hopes really come down to what McKennie and Adams bring to the table.
Talking to Express Sport via Oddspedia, Friedel said, “The U.S. has always needed all our best guys. We’ve never been the kind of team that can go 30 deep and not lose quality except in 2002. That was the only year when anyone could’ve started, and we wouldn’t have missed a beat. Tyler is the glue for the team. He doesn’t care if you’re seven feet tall; if you’re not pulling your weight, he’ll call you out. He’s just that type of player.”
Friedel went on, “I coached a lot of these guys when I ran the under-19s. Weston McKennie is, for me, the most talented footballer we have. He can do so many things, but he needs to be fit and focused. With Juventus this season, he’s looked sharp, and he’s carrying that form into the World Cup. If he’s got Tyler alongside him, no matter where Weston ends up playing, Tyler keeps him disciplined. You always get the best version of McKennie when Adams is on the field. If those two are fit and playing well, they open up the space that lets Christian do what he does best.”
Pochettino is staring down a huge challenge to get this team ready for the World Cup. He knows they’re nowhere near their peak, but he keeps insisting they’re not far off either. If Adams can stay healthy, something that’s been tough for him lately, that would take a lot of pressure off the coach. Without him, it shows. With him, everything just seems to fall into place.
