(Football News) Following a turbulent week during which Real Madrid bid farewell to long-standing stars like Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio, the 14-time European champions have announced a pivotal addition to their rebuilding process: the acquisition of highly sought-after England international midfielder, Jude Bellingham.
He arrives at Real Madrid as the reigning Bundesliga Player of the Season:
Jude Bellingham is far more than just a promising talent; he is already recognized as one of the world’s finest players. His move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid comes on the back of being crowned the Bundesliga Player of the Season. In the 2022/23 campaign, Bellingham showcased his prowess by netting eight goals and providing five assists from midfield. Additionally, he covered an impressive distance of 322 kilometers, surpassing all his Dortmund teammates, and triumphed in 482 duels, securing the top spot among all Bundesliga players.
Birmingham City retired his shirt number:
As a devoted fan of Birmingham City, Bellingham joined their academy at the age of seven. Rapidly progressing through the ranks, he made history by becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the club’s first team at just 16 years and 38 days old. Despite making only 44 appearances for the club before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020, Birmingham City promptly retired his shirt number, 22, as a tribute to his remarkable achievements. The club explained that his incredible success in such a short span exemplified the possibilities that talent, hard work, and dedication can unlock.
His father is a Non-League footballing legend:
Football talent runs in the Bellingham family, as Jude’s father, Mark Bellingham, carved out a legendary career in non-league football within England’s West Midlands region. Playing as a striker, Mark scored an astounding 700+ goals throughout his non-league journey, a remarkable feat that undoubtedly inspired his sons. Now, Jude finds himself at the pinnacle of football success with Real Madrid, while his younger brother, Jobe, plies his trade for the Birmingham City first team.
Bellingham leaves an indelible mark in Borussia Dortmund’s history after a highly successful three-year tenure before leaving for Real Madrid. On his debut against Duisburg, he made history as the club’s youngest-ever competitive goal scorer, accomplishing this feat at a mere 17 years and 77 days old. Although his teammate Youssoufa Moukoko later surpassed this record, Bellingham still holds the distinction of being the youngest Englishman ever to start a Champions League match, achieving this milestone at the age of 17 years and 113 days against Lazio. As he takes the field with Real Madrid , he will continue to build on his impressive tally of 23 appearances in the prestigious tournament.
During his formative years, Bellingham’s unwavering support for Birmingham City led him to exclusively don their shirt. However, his admiration for two iconic England internationals, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, prompted him to explore alternative options. Bellingham held such high regard for these legendary figures that he aspired to own replica shirts bearing their names. Now, as an established England international himself, he follows in the footsteps of his idols, Rooney and Gerrard.
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