Former Birmingham City head coach Pep Clotet expressed concerns about whether he could effectively nurture the potential of Jude Bellingham, fearing that Bellingham’s talent might surpass his ability to guide it. Clotet, who managed the club during the 2019-20 season, introduced a 16-year-old Bellingham to the first-team squad and witnessed his rise, with Bellingham eventually securing lucrative transfers to Borussia Dortmund and later, Real Madrid.
Reflecting on his time at Birmingham, Clotet disclosed his apprehensions regarding coaching and managing Bellingham. He worried that the young player might be negatively impacted by the demanding nature of Championship football.
Looking back, Clotet said, “Now, as I see him play and score goals in a Real Madrid jersey, I still observe the same calm and humility in him as before. He was a remarkably mature young man, as evident from our first conversation.”
Clotet recalled the initial encounter with Bellingham during the 2019 pre-season, where he had been tracking Bellingham’s progress in Birmingham’s youth ranks. He requested the club to promote him to the first team, although he did not inform Bellingham directly, as the player was considered an important asset for Birmingham.
Clotet and the club’s management decided to have Bellingham join them for pre-season to assess his readiness for first-team football. He recalled telling Bellingham, “You came with us for the pre-season, and initially, we informed you that it would be just for the pre-season. However, you should have it in your mind that this year needs to be your breakthrough.”
Bellingham responded with determination, assuring Clotet, “Don’t worry, coach. You know me, and you know I’m fully committed. I’m here to stay.” He demonstrated clarity about his goals and how he intended to achieve them.
Throughout the 2019 pre-season, Bellingham trained at the same intensity as his teammates. At some point, Clotet admitted that he had concerns about managing a talent as exceptional as Bellingham’s. He feared that pushing him too hard or advancing too quickly could harm his development. However, they had a plan to moderate his training workload just in case, but they never needed to implement it. Bellingham didn’t miss a single training session during pre-season, and he consistently kept up with his teammates’ pace.