Jude Bellingham's going nowhere! England star rules out Liverpool transfer as he reveals he plans to stay at Real Madrid for '10-15 years'

The English midfielder made the highly anticipated switch from Borussia Dortmund to the Spanish giants in July 2023 and spearheaded an immensely successful campaign for the capital side winning the Champions League and La Liga titles. However, he was linked to a move to Liverpool as well, with the prospect of joining the Merseyside club, home to his "hero" Steven Gerrard, generating significant interest. However, Bellingham revealed that the negotiations were not as advanced as media reports suggested.

“I think it wasn’t as close as people made out in the media, I think maybe they led people on a little bit,” Bellingham told in an interview with TNT Sports.

“When Madrid came knocking, I felt like that was the perfect club for me, but Steven Gerrard is a massive hero of mine. It would be nice to have a Steven Gerrard-esque performance, but it will be very difficult so we’ll see.”

Despite his respect for Gerrard and Liverpool, the 20-year-old midfielder made it clear that his focus remains firmly on succeeding with Real Madrid. He added: “I’m very happy at Madrid. I think the next 10, 15 years will be in white for me.”

Liverpool have been in scintillating form, winning all four of their Champions League matches so far. Victories over AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig, and Bayer Leverkusen have propelled them to the top of the league phase table, reaffirming their credentials as serious contenders for the title. In stark contrast, defending champions Real Madrid have struggled to find their footing in Europe. Los Blancos have already suffered two defeats in the group stage, leaving them in a precarious 18th place in the table.

Wednesday’s encounter at Anfield presents Bellingham with an opportunity to showcase his talents against the club that once courted him. For Real Madrid, the stakes are high as a positive result is crucial to bolstering their chances of securing an automatic place in the Champions League round of 16. And Bellingham must play his part against Arne Slot's high-flying troops.