Jobe Bellingham explains 'reluctance' to join Borussia Dortmund from Sunderland after following in Real Madrid superstar brother Jude's footsteps

Bellingham completed his highly-anticipated move from Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund earlier this month. The midfielder has now revealed that he was initially reluctant to sign for the German side, citing his elder brother and Real Madrid superstar Jude as the primary reason.

Speaking in an interview with DAZN, Bellingham explained why he was not entirely convinced of signing for Dortmund. He said: "I don't really care how it looks, but it might look a bit contradictory to some people. I was perhaps being biased against Dortmund for a very long time, because I have anxieties and fears and you want to be your own man, but I don't think I should let those stop me from making the right decision.

"So for me, it was about choosing the right path, not necessarily a different one. I don't think my path has been the same as Jude's at all. But, it meant if the right path meant signing for Borussia Dortmund, as so many top young players, not just me and my brother, then why would I not do it? It would be a big mistake to sign for another club just because Jude's played here and it didn't go well. So either way, there are risks on both sides. There are pros and cons to every club.

"I did have a lot of time to think about it. And I know the fans and I as well were impatient. But my head and my heart and that's all that matters. My perception is the only one that matters at the end of the day. So that's what I chose."

Jobe had already attracted considerable attention thanks to Jude's exploits, first at the Signal Iduna Park for three seasons and then at Real Madrid. The younger Bellingham, however, came into his own last season, helping Sunderland achieve promotion to the Premier League as he won the Young Player of the Season at the EFL Awards. Then, he completed a €33 million (£28m/$38m) transfer to Dortmund, which is the biggest sale in the Black Cats' history.

Bellingham made his debut for BVB earlier this week as he came on as a 59th-minute substitute in the 0-0 draw against Fluminense in their Club World Cup opener. He will next be in action on Saturday against South African side Mamelodi Sundowns, although he is unlikely to be handed a start by head coach Niko Kovac.