Jobe Bellingham’s hopes of sharing the biggest stage with his older brother Jude were dashed by a yellow card that triggered a suspension. The caution, picked up against Monterrey, meant he would miss Borussia Dortmund’s Club World Cup semi-final clash with Real Madrid a game built up as a potential first head-to-head for the Bellingham brothers.
It was a bitter blow for Jobe, especially considering the emotional weight the fixture carried. Dortmund had used the prospect of this very match as part of their pitch to lure him to Germany. That and a quietly executed visit from the club’s CEO, who met Jobe in a London hotel just after Sunderland’s playoff final victory. Disguised in hat and shades, the executive discussed the vision for Jobe’s future, hoping to sway him from rival suitors including both Milan clubs, Real Sociedad, Leipzig, and Frankfurt.
Dortmund’s courtship was meticulous but cautious. Despite their familiarity with the Bellingham family and having nurtured Jude before his move to Madrid, they were careful not to let that history cloud their judgment. The club’s scouts rated Jobe highly, but insisted the decision be based on his own merits, not his surname.
Jobe himself was initially hesitant. The pressure of following Jude’s path was real. Dortmund’s leaders reminded him to make a decision independent of family legacy. “There is a reason he wears Jobe on his shirt,” said one club official signifying his desire to carve his own identity.
Still, Jude’s presence in Spain did play a part in the younger Bellingham’s decision. Dortmund offered Champions League football and a clearer pathway to becoming a senior England international. The Club World Cup tie, Real Madrid versus Dortmund, was also dangled as a near-term prize his shot at sharing the pitch with Jude.
In the lead-up, the brothers, just 36 miles apart in Florida Madrid based in Palm Beach and Dortmund in Fort Lauderdale met with family in the U.S., soaking in what might have been. But in a twist of fate, Jobe’s suspension, due to card accumulation, snatched away the opportunity. The yellow against Monterrey was the second in the tournament his first, against Ulsan HD, was also hotly disputed.
Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, when informed of the suspension mid-interview, reacted with surprise. “Oh … it’s a little bit of a pity,” he said, capturing the collective disappointment.
But hope remains. Dortmund manager Niko Kovac was optimistic, saying, “They’ll face each other again maybe next season in the Champions League.” For now, the Club World Cup showdown is off, but the Bellingham brothers’ story is far from over.
