Three enormous photos that filled an entire wall were to Jude Bellingham’s right as he sat behind the top table at the Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri each have a trophy from Manchester City’s triple. In a another world, where a gigantic image of him would hang on the wall, he might be in the midfield and close to Rodri and De Bruyne.
Last year, City expressed interest in him. In that, they were not alone. Liverpool followed suit before withdrawing from the auction. However, it turned out to be an easy choice for one of the world’s most sought-after sportsmen.
“I had conversations with other teams but when Madrid came in it was a no-brainer really,” he said. “The size of the club, the project, the plan going forward, the chance to play with such amazing players: I just jumped at it. That’s why I made my decision.”
It’s one the City might want to regret. The escapee might break their enchantment and become the European champs. Bellingham, or anyone like him, was impossible to get. Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes were their midfield recruits instead; neither is nearly as good as Bellingham, but their combined cost of £75 million is not too far from the £88 million Real Madrid paid, which may increase to £115 million. Bellingham, wearing the visiting team’s colors at the Etihad Stadium, is likely to start the match on the bench. In a loss to Borussia Dortmund during the previous season, he accomplished the same feat. With the match sensibly poised at 3-3, Real Madrid’s quarterfinal Champions League match feels like an even greater event.
Bellingham stated, “These are the games you join for.” For many years, Real has been defined by these encounters, while City has just recently come into its own. The lad from Birmingham was drawn to Real even though the European Cup made them and vice versa. It appears to be a civilization of reciprocity. Even while the Real emblem continues to impress him, Bellingham’s name is on the back of many jerseys worn by fans at the Bernabeu, despite the fact that their recent and current history offers many more alluring options.
The midfield player remarked, “There are countless things I could name about the club.” “I feel grateful every time I go into training and wear the badge on the chest.” This appeal was evident right away: Bellingham scored 16 goals by Christmas and 20 goals by the beginning of February, but a two-month hiatus was caused by injury, suspension, and a loss of rhythm. Without even the slightest trace of pretense, he declared, “I started the first half of the season really well.” He now acknowledges the responsibility that comes with being one of Real’s contemporary Galacticos. He went on, “I’m happy to take the criticism on the chin.”
He has accepted responsibility at the Bernabeu, first as a false nine and scorer, and more recently as a result of a tactical move that has needed him to make a greater sacrifice for the team. “Over the past few months, my role has slightly changed,” he stated. “There are things I have had to tweak and do more work for the team which I absolutely don’t mind.”
Bellingham’s demeanor both on and off the pitch supported Carlo Ancelotti’s opinion. “He is only 20 years old, and we forget this,” stated the Real manager. Perhaps this is the result of accomplishing so much at such a young age. He has now been labeled as an expensive import on two occasions. He has been a trailblazer, taking the less-traveled path. “I was at Dortmund for three years and maybe took a path that was unfamiliar for English players abroad,” he told reporters.
He has adapted both on and off the pitch. Ancelotti has aided his development into a goal scorer. “He has a lot of quality technically and a strong physicality,” stated the Italian. “He is a modern – it is difficult to say midfielder – but he can cover a lot of space.” Ancelotti has used Bellingham more in the final third, giving the Englishman a dimension he was not completely aware of.
“The sign of a good manager is that he can make you believe you are a little better than you are,” remarked a player who is already one of the world’s greatest. “He provides me freedom to travel. He’s a great person who makes me feel at ease. He has been quite helpful in assisting me to adjust and recognize my own potential. I’ve played more as a 10, but at Dortmund, I was deeper, and Birmingham was all over the place. It’s absolutely his responsibility.”
If Haaland, a previous ally, is now leading the line for City, Bellingham has formed new alliances. “I play closely with Vinicius [Junior] and Rodrygo, and when everything comes together, it’s wonderful to play with such talented guys. “They make things so much easier.” And if joining Real Madrid was easy for them, he has made the transition to playing and excelling for them appear equally straightforward.