As Real Madrid prepares for a blockbuster FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final clash with Borussia Dortmund, midfielder Jude Bellingham made headlines—not for his performance on the pitch, but for a blunt response to a question off it. With Barcelona’s failed attempt to sign Nico Williams dominating headlines in Spain, Bellingham delivered a brutally honest three-word reaction that captured his laser focus on the tournament at hand.
For Bellingham and his Real Madrid teammates, the mission is clear—win the Club World Cup and cap off the season with a major international title. A victory over Dortmund would send them into the semi-finals, where they could face either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich in what’s shaping up to be a titanic final four.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated quarter-final, Bellingham didn’t hide the importance of the match or what it could mean for Los Blancos.
“It’s crucial because it was a poor season for us; we won some titles, but not the ones Real Madrid demands. This presents a significant opportunity to secure another trophy,” he said, per Marca.
Real Madrid enters the clash with history on their side—they beat Dortmund 2–0 in the 2023–2024 UEFA Champions League final, and Bellingham, who played for the German club between 2020 and 2023, knows them well. “They’re a dynamic team with pace and power. They have quality players who seek to control the midfield,” the Englishman noted.
What did Belligham say about Nico Williams?
While much of the pre-match attention centered on Madrid’s preparations, the press couldn’t resist probing Bellingham about Barcelona’s failed pursuit of Nico Williams, who recently signed a 10-year extension with Athletic Club.
Williams had been a hot target for Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and even Real Madrid earlier in the summer. But after Barcelona’s inability to guarantee registration or include an exit clause, the winger backed away from negotiations and stayed loyal to Bilbao.
Bellingham, however, made it crystal clear where his focus lies. When asked about the development, the England star offered a terse, three-word response: “I don’t care.”
He elaborated only slightly, reinforcing his commitment to Real Madrid’s mission at the Club World Cup: “It is something that does not affect Real Madrid. So, I don’t care about it. It’s not Real Madrid news,” Bellingham told Marca.
The Nico Williams saga underscores Barcelona’s ongoing financial challenges. La Liga president Javier Tebas recently confirmed that the club would not have been able to register Williams even if a deal was struck. The absence of a release clause in the contract proved to be the final stumbling block.
