Jude Bellingham did no damage to his reputation during the World Cup with England.
In what was, for the most part, an impressive Three Lions squad, Bellingham rose above the rest to shine. His work in midfield showed maturity ahead of his tender years and his standout displays against Iran and Senegal grabbed the world's attention.
No surprise therefore that Manchester United are keen to bring him to Old Trafford. MEN Sport reported on Saturday that the Reds are open to bidding again for Bellingham should the opportunity arise.
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Erik ten Hag has been personally watching Bellingham's matches for Borussia Dortmund in order to keep abreast of the midfielder's development. From a City fans' perspective, this explicit statement from United throwing their hat into the ring, should be music to their ears.
There are numerous reasons why Pep Guardiola and co would like to go head-to-head with United for the signing of Bellingham. Firstly, we need to go back to before the teenager moved to Germany.
United 'rolled out the red carpet' for Bellingham while the midfielder was still playing in the West Midlands. He received a tour of Carrington and met key members of the backroom staff too.
Yet despite this star treatment, Bellingham still opted to make the switch to Dortmund. A move across Europe would not have been an easy decision to make for the youngster and his family, however for the midfielder the overall project at a club is more important than mere location.
This leads us neatly to reason number two. City's future plan is a lot more appealing than what can currently be offered by United.
Across Manchester there is uncertainty surrounding the ownership, playing squad and European football. Meanwhile, over at the Etihad, City have stable ownership, a world class manager and can guarantee that Bellingham will be fighting on all fronts each season.
While City cannot rely on this next reason solely, there is a sense of familiarity at the Etihad too. His good friend Erling Haaland is enjoying a brilliant spell at the club and several of his England teammates grace the field for Guardiola's side.
In a straight shootout between City and United for Bellingham's signature, on paper, there is only one winner. More concern should be given though to teams who can offer similar visions to the Blues.
The likes of Liverpool and Real Madrid have shown they can be as tempting a destination as City. Guardiola should be wary if their interest intensifies further.
But, as things stand, having United as the main rival for Bellingham is not a source of concern.
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