Real Madrid presented Jude Bellingham as a new player on Thursday afternoon. A moment the teenage sensation dreamed of as a child.
Bellingham follows in Zidane’s footsteps and responds to Mbappé suggestion
Remarkably enough, Bellingham, who came over from Borussia Dortmund for more than a hundred million euros, will play with shirt number 5. With this, the Englishman follows in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane, who played that song for years at Los Blancos. “I’m not trying to be Zidane, I’m just trying to be Jude,” Bellingham said. “But it’s certainly a tribute to how good he was.”
Last year, Bellingham witnessed Real Madrid’s Champions League win in Paris. “I was in the final when Real Madrid beat Liverpool. That was a huge factor in my decision to sign here. I’m joining the biggest club in the world and it’s not about the money,” he revealed.
Goosebumps
“My father told me about Real Madrid’s interest a year ago,” Bellingham recalls. “Believe me, I got goosebumps and my heart stopped a bit. Money has never played a role in my career, this is the best club in the world. When Real Madrid came to my house for a meeting, I was sold. It was a great moment. You dream of that as a child.”
After an excellent season at Dortmund, Bellingham had the clubs to choose from. “Of course all my friends from the national team wanted me back in the Premier League. It was the easier option in my comfort zone. But Real Madrid just can’t turn you down,” the midfielder continued.
Mbappé
Meanwhile, just like last summer, speculation about the arrival of Kylian Mbappé in Madrid is rife. During his presentation, Bellingham was also asked if he would like to be on the field with the 24-year-old attacker. “Of course, who wouldn’t?” he replied.
Vinícius leads anti-racism committee: “Enough is enough”
Real Madrid striker Vinicius Jr. will lead a special FIFA anti-racism committee made up of players who will propose tougher penalties for discriminatory behaviour in football.
Vinícius was verbally abused in the duel with Valencia on May 10 by supporters of the home club, with the result that the Real Madrid player has filed a report. FIFA president Gianni Infantino now says Vinícius will be the face of an anti-racism commission. “There will be no more room for racism. Games must be stopped immediately if it happens. Enough is enough. I have asked Vinícius to lead this group of players who will impose tougher penalties against racism and who will later be adopted by all football authorities around the world,” Infantino told Reuters.
He continued, “We need to ask the players what they need to work in a safer environment. We take it seriously. We will introduce very harsh and severe punishments to end racism in football once and for all. We can’t tolerate it anymore. As president of FIFA, I feel I had to personally talk to Vinicius about it.”
