Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has suggested that Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham will instead join Real Madrid over Liverpool should both clubs come for his signature at the end of the season.

Ferdinand spoke after Real Madrid eliminated Liverpool from the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the Champions League round of 16 second-leg fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Spanish La Liga champions advanced to the Champions League quarterfinal on a 6-2 aggregate victory after beating the Premier League giants 5-2 in the first leg at Anfield.

However, Bellingham, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, is expected to leave Dortmund at the end of the season and has dropped hints in the past that Liverpool is his preferred destination should he leave Germany in the future.

But Ferdinand believes that Bellingham will have doubts about signing for Liverpool after Real Madrid defeated them on Wednesday night.

“If Liverpool gets Bellingham, then Stevie [Gerrard] and yourselves [Michael Owen and Peter Crouch] will have swum the English Channel to get him,” the former England defender said on BT Sport.

“I just think that if he watched that tonight, he must be thinking, "If Real Madrid and Liverpool are in for me, there is only one place to go!

“And they may not get the Champions League next season." As a player, you look at it cold, and I see more trophies here [in real life].”