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Jens Lehmann has insisted Jude Bellingham’s decision to snub Manchester United for Borussia Dortmund is good for the Bundesliga AND England.
The 17-year-old has made 19 appearances in the German top-flight and featured a further seven times in the Champions League this season since signing from Birmingham City.
Bellingham admitted the development of young starlets at Dortmund like compatriot Jadon Sancho was a key reason behind his £26million move.
Despite Sir Alex Ferguson even offering the teenager a tour of the Aon Training Complex in the summer, the central midfielder still decided to relocate to Germany.
The decision has proved to be an inspired one, with Bellingham starring for Dortmund on a regular appearance and even making his senior debut for the England side in November.
Lehmann, who played 179 times for BVB across a four-year spell, insists no-one in Germany is surprised at just how rapidly the starlet has settled.
He told talkSPORT.com: “I don’t feel that because when you come from Birmingham, a team out of the Premier League, then you expect something of him.
“I like him as a player; his posture, his physicality, but also his technique. And he can score goals at a very young age.
“So it is good for the Bundesliga that, all of a sudden, young English players go the other way round. Before it was always German players going to England, now it is the other way around.
“It’s good for his personal experience, his development, just in case he goes back or plays for the English national team.
“But, right now, I guess he wants to experience the fantastic atmosphere of the Signal Iduna Park because due to coronavirus, there were not many occasions when people were allowed to come to the stadiums.”
While the Three Lions may well benefit from Bellingham’s continued form at Dortmund, the player he may well line up against on Saturday has actually decided to snub Gareth Southgate’s advances.
Saturday’s Der Klassiker between Dortmund and Bayern Munich could see Bellingham line up against Jamal Musiala – a player who will represent Die Mannschaft at senior international level instead of England.
And when asked about Musiala’s decision, Lehmann joked the lack of success from the Three Lions was a driving factor for the creative midfielder who made Bayern history last month.
“It’s hard for me to judge,” he added. “We are happy because he is a great player and probably because he sees more potential in the German team winning something than in the English!”
Watch multiple live matches from the Bundesliga every week exclusively live on BT Sport, including Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund on BT Sport 2 on Saturday 6 March from 5.15pm
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