Jude Bellingham was presented this morning in the sports city of Valdebebas after signing yesterday for six seasons with Real Madrid, which has paid 103 million, plus another 30% in variables, to Borussia Dortmund, where the Englishman has played the last three seasons. In his first words as a new player for the Whites, Bellingham, who will turn 20 on June 29, defined himself as “a midfielder who does a bit of everything and is always willing to help the team.”
In his first press conference at his new club, Bellingham stuck to the script of insisting that “no player can turn down an offer from Madrid because they are the best club in the world.” The Englishman will wear the number five shirt, the shirt that Jesús Vallejo wore last season, as a tribute to Zidane: “I admire Zidane a lot, his legacy at this club. That is why I have chosen this number. Although I am different, “It’s a number that inspires me. 22 has been my number for a long time and it’s the one I carry in my heart. We’ll see in the future.”
Bellingham also commented that other Premier teams paid more for his signing: “Money is not that important, I didn’t think about it. It has never been decisive in choosing a team. I spoke with Dortmund, I loved what Real Madrid gave off and I wanted it to be fast. It’s not that the other teams were bad, of course not, but I chose Madrid. I’ve always watched their games. I love how they play. Last year I saw the Champions League final in Paris alongside Zidane “.
Bellingham was also asked if he would like to play with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé: “Kane is my captain and a fantastic player. Whatever happens with him happens, I mustn’t comment on it.” Of the Frenchman he said more or less the same: “I know what is said. I have read things on Twitter, but not everything we read is true. He is a great player and we always want to play with the best. We would all like to play with Mbappé, there is no doubt”, he affirmed.
Bellingham spoke about Madrid’s season: “This year we haven’t been able to win the League or the Champions League, but I want to contribute to winning titles every year. This makes us more eager.” What had impressed him the most today was seeing the trophy room: “It has been impressive. You are looking forward to taking a Champions League with your hands.”
The player also commented that he doesn’t mind the pressure: “Pressure has always been with me in football. Everyone in the English team wanted me to play in the Premier League, in my country. But I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. The way The easiest thing was to go back to England, but with Madrid in the middle I had to take advantage of this opportunity. This is the right move for me. This is where I wanted to be”, he concluded.
In his speech to present the player, Florentino Pérez glossed over the merits of the English footballer: “You come to Madrid from one of the great European clubs, a friendly club like Borussia Dortmund. You have been decisive there, with unforgettable moments. You have been the best in the Bundesliga this season, you were Dortmund’s youngest goalscorer, also the youngest to score with Birmingham, where they retired your shirt at the age of 17. With England you are already one of the greats and in 2021 you were the youngest player to play a Eurocup”.
Nor is Bellingham worried about what has been paid for his signing: “I know that a lot has been paid, but the price does not worry me. I am not a lawyer or an accountant, I am a soccer player and I come to play, to speak on the field” .
Of his new teammates, Bellingham highlighted Kroos and Modric. “The best thing in a team is to mix youth and seniority. In the first weeks I will stick with them to learn a lot. I hope they don’t mind. For my career, it’s a priceless experience to see the way they play, their experience, their vision …”. Bellingham is the seventh Briton to wear a Real Madrid shirt.