By Abimbola Ogunnaike with agency report
Jude Bellingham has revealed what informed his decision to join Spanish La Liga giants, Real Madrid instead of English Premiership clubs such as Man City, Liverpool, Chesea, others.
According to Bellingham, it was partly inspired by seeing the Spanish giants beat Liverpool in the Champions League final.
Los Blancos secured their 14th UCL title thanks to a goal from Vinicius Junior in Paris last year, denying Jurgen Klopp’s side a second title in three years.
Bellingham, who after months of speculation, has now revealed that seeing that final helped him make his decision a year later.
“I was at the final when Madrid beat Liverpool. That was a huge factor in my decision to join Real,” the 19-year-old mercurial midfielder said at his unveiling
On why he had joined the Spanish side over Premier League suitors such as Manchester City or Chelsea, he said: ‘I think the respect Real Madrid has in England and the pedigree they have in Europe is huge.
‘Madrid’s history appeals to me and I want to add to their history.
‘All the players at the England camp kept asking me to go to the Premier League or join their clubs but I wanted to play outside of my comfort zone. This is where I wanted to be.’
Bellingham will wear the iconic number five shirt at Real, which previously belonged to club legend Zinedine Zidane.
The former Dortmund man spoke of his admiration for the Frenchman, who won four Champions Leagues with the club as a player and Manager, but made it clear he did not want to copy him.
“For a start I’d like to thank Jesus Vallejo for letting me wear the number five,” he said of the defender who gave up the number five, “I had some contact with him just to see if it was OK and he was a brilliant guy in letting me where it, just being so nice about it, so I’m very grateful.
“I’ve said how much I admire Zinedine Zidane, the legacy he has in the club, and I’m not trying to be the same as him, I’m trying to be Jude, but it’s definitely a homage to how great he was”.
He also spoke with excitement about working with ‘one of the greatest coaches that’s ever coached’ in Carlo Ancelotti, and while he refused to fuel transfer rumours surrounding Harry Kane, he did tell reporters he loved his England captain “as a player and as a person”.
Bellingham joins an exciting cohort of young midfielders at Real, where he will team up with the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, 23; and Eduardo Camavinga, 20.
With Luka Modric and Toni Kroos approaching the end of their careers, fans will be hoping Bellingham and co can be the basis of a new dynasty at the Bernabeu.
Source: Daily Mail Football
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