Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. is hopeful that his partnership with Jude Bellingham will match the connection he once had with former teammate Karim Benzema.
Bellingham has been instrumental in setting up two of Vinicius’ goals in the current Champions League campaign, including the Brazilian’s contribution in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory against Napoli.
“I’m happy that he’s on the right path to help us and that my connection with him is the same as mine was with Karim (Benzema),” Vinicius Jr. told TNT Brasil after Wednesday’s game. “I hope that we can help each other more and more.”
Vinicius revealed that he pushed for Bellingham to join Real Madrid this summer from Borussia Dortmund.
“I’m happy with the way he arrived,” Vinicius said. “I helped him a lot to come to Real Madrid. I sent (him) many messages over several days.”
Brahim Diaz is expected to take his place in the starting XI.
Bellingham, who had started all seven of Madrid’s previous games this season and played 620 minutes, will be on the bench along with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and the now-fit Vinicius Jr.
Madrid has won five of their six La Liga matches and was on a five-game winning streak until their recent loss to Atletico Madrid.
They received a boost from Barcelona’s draw with Mallorca and have the opportunity to take the top spot in La Liga if they return to winning ways.
Following the Las Palmas match, Madrid will prepare for a top-of-the-table clash against Girona on Saturday, possibly with Bellingham being rested in consideration of that important showdown.
Nacho commented that Jude Bellingham “was born to play for Real Madrid” following the midfielder’s impressive performance, which included his sixth goal in as many games.
Bellingham’s goal secured a 1-0 victory for theLaLiga giants over Union Berlin in their opening Group C Champions League match.
The English midfielder, who made a €103 million move from Dortmund during the summer, capitalised on a loose ball in the six-yard box during the 94th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu. This late strike denied the Bundesliga side a point in their Champions League debut.
Jude Bellingham has now found the back of the net in five out of six appearances for Real Madrid, with his only goalless match being the 2-1 league victory over Real Sociedad last Sunday.
“I think Jude was born to play for Real Madrid,” club captain Nacho told Movistar. “We’re lucky to have him here with us. Let’s hope he keeps scoring goals.”
Jude Bellingham, aged 20, has made an incredible start to his tenure in theSpanish capital with Real Madrid. He scored on his debut and has continued this scoring streak in four of the five subsequent matches.
The English midfielder has netted five goals in as many La Liga games, making a significant impact after his €103 million (£89 million) transfer from Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Real Madrid has maintained a flawless record in its initial domestic matches this season. However, their true challenge begins with the commencement of the Champions League this week.
In the highly anticipated competition, Bellingham, at 20 years old, is poised to make his “second” debut for Los Blancos against Union Berlin on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid places immense value on this tournament, having been defeated 4-0 by Manchester City in the second leg of last season’s semi-final, ultimately losing 5-1 on aggregate.
The acquisition of Bellingham was, in part, a response to that humbling defeat.
Madrid have started reducing minutes for their veteran players in midfield—Luka Modric and Toni Kroos—while allowing Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde more opportunities.
Bellingham adds to the tougher core of Madrid’s sport this season, shorn of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, who departed for a new adventure in Saudi Arabian football in the summer.
Facing a Bundesliga side in Europe, Bellingham should feel comfortable, although it has become clear that he has already made himself at home.
In his first appearance at the hallowed Bernabeu, the England international nearly blew the stadium’s new roof off with a last gasp 95th minute strike to earn Madrid a narrow win over Getafe in a derby on September 2.
Jude Bellingham
Wearing the No. 5 on his back in tribute to Zinedine Zidane, Bellingham has quickly become a fan favourite at Madrid.
Celebrating his goals with his arms open wide, as if to share his joy with the supporters, he has instantly taken to him in a way that never happened with Welsh winger Gareth Bale.
Bellingham has been serenaded with the chorus of the Beatles song “Hey Jude”, which he said was a special moment.
“When they sang ‘Hey Jude’ at the end, I got goosebumps,” he told Real Madrid TV after the win over Getafe.
“I just wanted to turn and stand still and listen to it while my legs were shaking.”
Bellingham nodded to Spanish culture with a matador’s flag-waving gesture after dodging an attempted barge by a Getafe player.
“Good players with personalities suffer a bit less than the others,” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, when asked how Bellingham had clicked so quickly.
“There’s no other reason. A player with personality, above all, more than quality, means that an important shirt like Real Madrid’s doesn’t weigh so much.”
That personality was on display when he led England to the World Cup quarterfinals last year in Qatar at only 19.
Thus far, Ancelotti has deployed Bellingham as a number 10, providing a strong physical presence in the area behind the nimble Brazilian duo of Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, the latter of whom is currently injured.
The only match in which he has not scored was Sunday’s 2-1 comeback victory over Real Sociedad, where he dropped deeper and got stuck in the midfield battle.
“He had a consistent game, he didn’t get into the box until right at the end but he was involved throughout, working a lot,” said Ancelotti.
Bellingham’s goals have replaced Benzema’s; he has played more like the French forward than Les Bleus icon Zidane since joining the club.
However, with Mbappe’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, it would have been a big and potentially unnecessary investment for Madrid, which they thought better of.
Bellingham’s goals were the final nail in that coffin, as he showed he can make the difference in the opposition box in the attacking position Ancelotti has created for him.
Perhaps Mbappe will arrive next summer, and perhaps a new coach will change Bellingham’s role once Ancelotti takes over the Brazilian national team, but in the short term, the current setup has suited coach and player just fine.
Getafe head coach Jose Bordalas has revealed that Jude Bellingham recommended to Mason Greenwood that he consider playing in La Liga.
In the previous month, Manchester United and Greenwood reached a mutual agreement for him to leave the club following a six-month investigation into allegations of attempted rape and assault, with the criminal case against him being dropped in February.
Greenwood made a season-long loan move to Getafe in Madrid from Manchester United on September 1. Interestingly, Bellingham had also made a move to the Spanish capital, joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund earlier in the summer.
Getafe coach Jose Bordalas
“Greenwood has a friendship with Bellingham and he recommended that he come and play in the Spanish league,” Getafe coach Jose Bordalas said.
ESPN has reached out to Bellingham’s representatives for their input on the matter.
Greenwood, who tallied 35 goals in 129 appearances for United, has not participated in a competitive match since January 2022. Prior to joining Getafe, he engaged in solitary training as part of his preparation for his return to the field.
Despite being under contract with United until June 2025, it is unlikely that the 21-year-old will make a return to Old Trafford next summer.
“He is a fantastic player,” Bordalas said of Greenwood. “We have to be patient and calm. His teammates and the coaching staff are helping him. He is adapting sensationally well and I hope he can help us.”
Reportedly, Borussia Dortmund’s players are content withJude Bellingham’s departure to Real Madrid due to the midfielder’s apparent desire to be the focal point of attention.
As per information from Bild, the Dortmund players perceive that Bellingham felt overshadowed by Erling Haaland.
They highlight instances where Bellingham independently acknowledged the fans after matches, rather than with his teammates.
Throughout last season, he was tasked with leading the team on multiple occasions; however, his peers held the view that he lacked strong leadership attributes and displayed a moody demeanor, leading to internal tensions within the squad.
During the 2021-22 Europa League campaign, following Borussia Dortmund’s elimination by Rangers, the report specifies that Jude Bellingham directed insults at Nico Schulz.
According to lip readers, he reportedly said, “You can’t play a fing pass, you’re fing s**t! Every damn time!”
Instances of Bellingham’s reported outbursts towards his teammates were not isolated, as several occasions during the previous season saw him lose his temper.
However, positive changes have been noted since the appointment of the new club captain, Emre Can, who is believed to have injected revitalising energy into the team’s locker room.
Bellingham’s successor, former Manchester United midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, has also gained favour among his fellow players.
Furthermore, more senior members like Sebastian Haller have taken on weightier responsibilities within the team council, particularly for the English-speaking players.
Having made a move to Madrid for a fee initially set at €103 million (£89 million or $110 million), Bellingham appears to have found his footing in his new environment.
The transfer fee could potentially increase by an additional €30 million (£26 million or $32 million) if certain performance targets are achieved.
He made a notable impact by scoring in Madrid’s La Liga opener against Athletic Club, and he aims to replicate his impressive contributions in the upcoming match against Almeria.
Real Madrid is pinning their hopes on the arrival of 20-year-old England midfielder Jude Bellingham to reclaim the LaLiga title from Barcelona and mount a serious challenge for their 15th European Cup.
The Spanish giants made a significant investment of 103 million euros plus 30 million in add-ons to secure Bellingham’s signature from Borussia Dortmund, making him the second-most expensive signing in the club’s history.
Bellingham has quickly made an impact in the dressing room, impressing his coach and teammates with his performances during pre-season matches.
The departures of key attacking players, including Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and Spain international Marco Asensio, have left Real Madrid lacking firepower, with only journeyman forward Joselu signed from relegated Espanyol.
While rumors persist about a possible move for France striker Kylian Mbappe, who has expressed his intention not to extend his contract with Paris St Germain, for now, Real Madrid is without a top-level striker to replace Benzema.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti is relying on the versatility of Bellingham, prompting him to change the system he used during his previous successful spells at Real Madrid, when they won the Champions League in 2014 and 2022.
Ancelotti has opted for a 4-4-2 formation in pre-season friendlies, deploying Bellingham as an attacking midfielder and fast-paced Brazilians Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo as centre forwards.
Bellingham’s performances have earned widespread praise in the Spanish media, and his connection with Vinicius has excited Ancelotti.
“Bellingham is a complete midfielder and different from the others we have,” the Italian told reporters during Real’s pre-season trip to the U.S.
“He is a fantastic player. The team has to get used to his quality, which is extraordinary. His arrival in the box is very important for the team.
“He is very important for us because he has a lot of pace and intensity in his game. He moves very well without the ball, he goes into free space and adds another quality to this fantastic squad.”
Real Madrid start their bid for a record-extending 36th Spanish title on Saturday at Athletic Bilbao.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham expressed his deep respect for Lisandro Martinez, despite having a clash with the Manchester United defender during their friendly match in Houston.
Bellingham took exception to a robust challenge made by Martinez, but he clarified that both players demonstrated mutual respect for each other during half-time.
“The little tiff with Martinez is one of those things. He is a brilliant player. I came in at half-time and I was f’ing this and f’ing that. But when he came over to wish me all the best when he came off, I really respected it,” Bellingham told reporters.
“I know what goes on the pitch stays on the pitch. I saw him at the end of the game and wished him well.
“I can respect that when two players are trying to win for their team and can come together and be respectful after the game.
He is a great competitor and a great player. Just like me, he wants to win. Sometimes it spills over. That is part of the game. I am really respectful. We can have that moment after the game.”
Bellingham scored his first goal for Real Madrid to give Los Blancos the lead in an eventual 2-0 win over United.
The England midfielder said he was settling in well to his new club after his £115 million ($149m) move from Borussia Dortmund. “I was confident coming here because I knew how good the players were.
I know the qualities I can bring and I feel like I have slotted in. The role I am playing is enjoyable. I had a decent game against AC Milan and a decent one today. I just want to keep up the rhythm going into the season,” said the 20-year-old.
In a thrilling match in Houston, Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, with Jude Bellingham making an impressive impact in only his second appearance for the Spanish giants.
The breakthrough came in the sixth minute, as Antonio Rudiger set up the young midfielder, who executed a beautiful clipped finish from 18 yards out.
Though there were some doubts about potential offside, Bellingham’s exquisite touch and finish left no room for questioning his exceptional abilities on the field.
Bellingham’s first goal for Real Madrid was a thing of beauty, dinking it over Onana on his Man Utd debut.
Under the closed roof of the NRG Stadium, Real Madrid dominated the game throughout.
Andre Onana, their goalkeeper, had a composed debut and left a lasting impression with his exceptional saves.
Despite his impressive performance, Onana couldn’t keep a clean sheet as he was eventually outdone by Joselu’s brilliance late in the match.
The former Stoke and Newcastle striker pulled off an extraordinary acrobatic scissor kick that left Onana with no opportunity to stop the breathtaking strike.
It was a moment of pure brilliance from Joselu, securing a memorable goal for his team.
Jude Bellingham’s dazzling performance in his debut game for Real Madrid has left coach Carlo Ancelotti in absolute awe of the young English midfielder’s exceptional qualities.
Despite being just 20 years old, the England international stole the spotlight in midfield during Los Blancos’ pre-season friendly match against AC Milan, even though he had been on the pitch for a little over an hour.
Bellingham was immediately thrust into a midfield quartet alongside seasoned players like Toni Kroos, Federico Valverde, and Eduardo Camavinga, and it was the young Englishman who truly captured the attention of both the fans and his manager.
According to reports from Madrid Universal, Ancelotti has showered praise on Bellingham, recognizing him as an important asset for the Spanish giants.
The coach hailed the English midfielder as a complete player, undoubtedly impressed by his outstanding performance and potential at such a young age.
“Jude Bellingham? He’s a fantastic player. He’s very important. He’s a complete midfielder. Very good without the ball. He’s unique, extraordinary.”
Last month, Bellingham became the most expensive British player after sealing a move to Madrid worth a reported fee of £113 million.
Jude Bellingham’s debut goes viral
Meanwhile, a compilation of Jude Bellingham’s highlights during his Real Madrid debut against AC Milan has gone viral following the England midfielder’s stunning performance for the La Liga giants, Sport Bible reports.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder showed flashes of his abilities, producing some very nice passes and providing energy in the centre of the park for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid fought back from two goals down to eventually win the tie 3-2 against the Serie A giants, with Bellingham instantly becoming the fans’ favourite despite starting in a team of established midfielders such as Toni Kroos.
Earlier, Sports Briefreported Jude Bellingham sent social media into a frenzy with a sensational display on his Real Madrid debut.
Thrown into action by Carlo Ancelotti during Madrid’s first pre-season match, the young midfielder adapted seamlessly, contributing to their comeback victory against AC Milan on July 24.
Bellingham’s impressive performance saw him dominate the midfield effortlessly, as he confidently held his ground for 63 minutes before being substituted for Nico Paz.
Former player and manager ofReal Madrid, Zinedine Zidane, has stated that Jude Bellingham, the club’s new signing, is prepared to play for the La Liga giants.
Bellingham, the England international, recently finalized his transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu, becoming the second-most expensive signing in the club’s history.
Joining Carlo Ancelotti’s team from Borussia Dortmund for €103 million, Bellingham will don the number five shirt, following in the footsteps of Zidane.
Zidane, a legend at Real Madrid both as a coach and player, has spoken glowingly about Bellingham’s capture.
“Jude Bellingham is an important player for the future. He is ready to play at Real Madrid,” Zidane told Telefoot, via 90Min.
“I met Bellingham at the 2022 Champions League final, we spoke a little, I hope he has a great career,” the Frenchman added.
Zidane himself reportedly invited the Englishman to watch the 2022 Champions League final live from the stands.
The Whites beat Liverpool 1-0, and this result was key to Bellingham’s decision to join Real Madrid.
The England international scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 42 matches across all competitions last season.
Madrid fans will hope Bellingham’s Real Madrid career will be at least as successful as Zidane’s – or even better.
Zidane speaks on coaching again
Zidane has also said that he hopes to return to management in the near future.
The French footballing icon, who won three consecutive Champions League titles at Real Madrid, has been out of a job since 2021.
He has already snubbed an approach from PSG to replace Christophe Galtier and there have been reports of interest from Saudi Arabia, as claimed by Marca.
Speaking to French outlet Téléfoot, he said: ‘Live and work again in France? Nothing should be ruled out. I know what I want and what I don’t want. If I am having this break, it is because there must be one. I hope to tell myself that soon, I am going to be able to coach.’
It was reported back in January that Zidane had turned down approaches from the USA, Brazil, and Portugal to manage their national teams.
Zidane rejects PSG
Sports Brief earlier reported Zidane turned down the chance to replace Christophe Galtier in the PSG dugout.
Whilst Galtier’s departure hasn’t yet been officially confirmed by PSG, it has been widely reported that the former OGC Nice manager, who only arrived at the club in the summer, has already been informed by Sporting Advisor Luís Campos that he is no longer Les Parisiens’ manager.
The ongoing debate about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over who is the greatest player of all time in football has recently gained a new celebrity voice in Jude Bellingham.
As Messi and Ronaldo have dominated football for almost 20 years, winning numerous titles and individual awards, there are now fans in both camps of their rivalry.
According to Sportskeeda, Bellingham has now revealed his GOAT to be ‘Messi’ as he describes then five-time Ballon d’Or winner as not human due to his abilities.
“Messi for me. He has a good mix of numbers and the watch factor. You just watch him and think ‘How does he do that?’
Every time I watch him, he does something and I think ‘he can’t be human.” Messi won a club-record 34 trophies with Barcelona, including 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four UEFA Champions Leagues and has added a Ligue 1 title in his first season with Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi set to reject PSG
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi is increasingly likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract runs out this summer, Sky Sports reports.
PSG considers the signing of Messi as a free agent in the summer of 2021 to be a success on and off the field, but some of the club’s fans have turned against him since they were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich last month.
Messi’s representatives have been in talks about a contract renewal with PSG, but the Argentine appears to have made up his mind now to leave the Ligue 1 champions in the summer.
Louis Van Gaal ends GOAT debate
Earlier, Sports Brief reported former Netherlands coach Louis Van Gaal has heaped praises on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best players of their era.
Van Gaal, 71, then disclosed his preference for the Portuguese legend in the GOAT debate.
Louis van Gaal is among a number of high-ranking members of the football fraternity who have now delved into the Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi debate.
It would be “amazing,” according toLiverpool captain Jordan Henderson, if Jude Bellingham joined him at Anfield, but the player insisted that Bellingham must pick the team that is best for him.
While playing for Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham has emerged as one of the game’s most exciting prospects.
He also had a standout World Cup with Henderson’s England last year.
Although recent reports suggested the Reds may struggle to finance a deal should the latter two start a bidding war, Bellingham is expected to demand a fee in excess of £100 million (€114 million), the 19-year-old midfielder has been linked with Liverpool, Manchester City, and Real Madrid among others.
Henderson has been as impressed as anyone by Bellingham, and though he hopes to be able to link up with him at club level as well as with England, he said the youngster must “think about himself”.
“I just want him to be the best player he can be – of course, if it ended up being Liverpool that would be amazing,” he said. “But it’s got to be right for him, and it’s going to be every club you can think of that will want him.
“He has to think about himself and make sure he makes the right decision for his career. But there’s going to be one lucky club that will end up getting him, whether that is now or in a year or two it will be a lucky club.”
6 – Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham is making his sixth start in the knockout stages of the Champions League, tying Trent Alexander-Arnold for the most starts by an English teenager in the knockout stages of the #UCL. Regular. pic.twitter.com/b7KZcO4ywO
Bellingham has 10 goals and six assists in 34 games for Dortmund this season, and Henderson detailed what it is about the former Birmingham City player that makes him stand out.
“His potential is through the roof, really,” Henderson added. “He can be as good as he wants to be – but he’s got the right mentality, which is the most important thing.
“He is a really special player and I can’t believe his age and his mentality, how he applies himself to training and the games, everything. I’ve never seen it before, so I’m pretty confident that he’ll be a pretty good player for many years to come.
“Honestly, I can’t believe his age, how mature he plays, how mature he is off the pitch, in the gym, training, everything, recovery day after the game. He is just dedicated to football.
“He’s a special player, but I’ve said it before we just need to be careful not to apply too much pressure on him but let him play football. When you let him play football you can see what he does for Dortmund, you can see what he does here for England.
“Every time he puts on an England shirt he grows and is getting better and better all the time. Of course there are things he can improve on and get better at – he’s only 19 – but the platform and the basis he has got he can go as high as he wants to.”
The future of Jude Bellingham’s football career is still uncertain. The youngster from Borussia Dortmund has been linked with a transfer away from the German team, with Real Madrid and Liverpool the front-runners to sign him.
Bellingham should stay with the team for another season, according to a club legend, as Dortmund are also eager to hold onto their star player. Stefan Effenberg thinks the young star would be better off remaining with the Bundesliga team, as reported by BVB Buzz.
“I would advise Bellingham to stay in Dortmund; he is still young and can still sign three of four top contracts in the future,” he said.
Contrary to Haaland, he thinks Bellingham has a closer relationship with the club and enjoys their trust and support more.
Effenberg cited Jadon Sancho as an example for his recommendation to the star to remain in Germany. “I hope he decides to stay for the sake of his own growth.
There is also no assurance in other places. The prime example of this is Sancho.
Sancho was one of the many gifted young players for Dortmund who was expected to have a promising future.
According to Transfermarkt, he scored 50 goals in 137 games for the German team but just 10 in 61 games for the English team.
Effenberg is concerned that Bellingham might suffer the same fate as the Red Devils player, who fell short of expectations after moving.
Bellingham is unsure of the club’s future. According to a previous report from Sports Brief, Borussia Dortmund is eager to learn if Bellingham will be returning for another year.
According to news reports, the Bundesliga team wants to keep the player, but he is unsure of his position.
Bellingham has been linked with moves to clubs like Liverpool and Real Madrid, though his current club still wants him.
Real Madrid will step up their pursuit of Jude Bellingham in January but are refusing to overpay for the England sensation.
Los Blancos are set to battle long-term admirers Liverpool for the Borussia Dortmund playmaker, 19, after his superb World Cup performances.
ESPN claim Real are ready to make their move and value Bellingham at £88million — a figure they will reportedly not go above.
Carlo Ancelotti is looking to freshen up his midfield with Luka Modric, 37, and Toni Kroos, who turns 33 next week, heading towards the end of their careers.
He secured the services of France starlet Aurelien Tchouameni last summer and also boasts young talents Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde.
Real have been talking up their project to Bellingham but Liverpool are set to provide stiff competition as they have their own midfield issues to address.
Jurgen Klopp is aware of the need for younger legs in the engine room and Bellingham’s displays in Qatar proved he is ready to handle the pressure of playing at the highest level.
Chelsea have also been linked in recent weeks but appear to have turned their attention elsewhere with The Metro reporting that Enzo Fernandez has agreed to join them.
Enzo Fernandez was one of Argentina’s stars of the World Cup
Real Madrid are confident they lead the race for the £100million-plus rated England midfielder’s signature, while Liverpool are also extremely keen.
But sources at the Etihad believe the opportunity to work with Guardiola will swing the Borussia Dortmund star’s decision in City’s favour.
Bellingham, 19, is also wanted by Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain.
Loan deals
Steve Parish admits Crystal Palace are more likely to make loan signings next month
Chairman Steve Parish hopes Crystal Palace will be able to freshen up their squad in January — but admits loan deals are the most likely option.
Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been linked with a temporary return to Selhurst Park, although Erik ten Hag has stressed the 25-year-old right-back remains part of his plans.
Speaking to Palace TV, Parish said: “The January window is hard. There are one or two things we would like to do, probably more loans than buys.
“We would really look to the summer to do anything major. We have a good squad. I think the players are very good and I think we have a good points tally.
“In January, it’s quite nice to freshen things up a bit if we can, look at some places we feel we can improve with the manager, so we are looking at situations there.”
Since Jude Bellingham ignited a World Cup triumph over Senegal, veteran England defender Gary Neville believes the midfielder is nearly a complete player.
Another outstanding performance by the teenager helped Gareth Southgate’s team win 3-0 on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals in Qatar.
The midfielder Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund has emerged as a vital player for the Three Lions during this competition and appears to have cemented his spot in the starting lineup.
Neville claimed the 19-year-old has earned his spot and added that he appears to already possess a mastery and maturity in an England jersey that few others possess.
“It’s very rare you see a midfield player as comfortable in his own half as in the attacking half,” he told ITV. “He looks like he can do absolutely everything.
“Is he a holding player, an attacking player? He’s everything in one. He’s fantastic, [and] so young, but it’s the composure, maturity and fearlessness I can’t get my head around.
“I watched players play for England for many years, the weight of the shirt was enormous. He just doesn’t feel it at all, he looks like he belongs out there, like he wants it and needs it in his life.”
Bellingham and England will face holders France in their quarter-final tie, with the pair set to meet on Saturday in the concluding match of the last eight.
Pedri has just turned 20. Jamal Musiala and Jude Bellingham still have a few months to go. The kids who are going to break the bank have arrived at the World Cup and are showing their quality.
There are stars who shine brighter, even veterans ready to bow out in style at their last World Cup, but the value of these three players have skyrocketed.
All three are valued at over 100 million euros. And their value continues to grow. They arrived at the World Cup with teams who are candidates to win the tournament.
England, Germany and Spain are among the options to put one more star on their jerseys, but ahead of them, teams like Brazil, Argentina or France started as bigger favourites.
Pedri is the light of Luis Enrique’s side, Musiala brings something different for Germany, and Bellingham has half of the Premier League in love with him.
Getting them out of their teams will not be easy. Especially because Pedri and Musiala are at clubs that are not very good sellers, Barcelona and Bayern Munich respectively.
However, with Bellingham, in a Borussia Dortmund side that has never been afraid to get rid of its best players, things change. The fight for the Briton started already a few months ago and promises to be fierce as soon as the English leave the World Cup in Qatar.
Gvardiol unleashed
Perhaps these three are the ones who shine the brightest, but there are others, a little more hidden, who are going to impact the transfer market in the next few windows.
Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol is one of them. The 20-year-old RB Leipzig center-back is poised to break the record price paid for a defender set by Matthijs de Ligt earlier this summer.
Fernandez on the score sheet
Enzo Fernandez’s goal against Mexico was just the tip of the iceberg. At 21, the Benfica midfielder is a quality figure and could become the next big transfer from the Primeira Liga to the Premier League.
Musah is making waves
Perhaps at another level, but also showing quality, appears the Valencia player Yunus Musah.
With the USA he is shining brightly and his price is rising. This week he turns 20 years old. Valencia are willing to sell, but want an offer of substance.
Jude Bellingham can leave Borussia Dortmund if Europe’s big names come calling as the German club cannot “afford to fight financially”, says their CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Bellingham’s strong start to the season has seen him register 12 goal involvements in all competitions, earning him a place in England’s World Cup and garnering interest from a number of top clubs.
Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City are all rumoured to be interested in the midfielder, who signed for Dortmund from Birmingham City as a 17-year-old in 2020 for an initial fee of £25million.
If Bellingham does leave, Dortmund reportedly want a fee of €100m, though that number could end up reaching €150m should a bidding war play out for his services.
One of my biggest dreams growing up was to play at a world cup, I’m so grateful to have been given the chance to do so. Will give everything to try and make it a tournament that the country can be proud of. Let’s go.🏴❤️ pic.twitter.com/fMtNRSnvMx
While Bellingham is yet to publicly state any desire to leave Dortmund, Watzke knows will be difficult to keep hold of him if that changes and the top teams come calling.
“We will hold talks now, as soon as [the World Cup in] Qatar is over,” Watzke told Bild. “Then we’ll have a fundamental talk about what he would like.
“He just needs to tell us if he’d like to stay or if he’d like to go. In both cases we’ll talk about it very pleasantly and reasonably together.
“In general we can imagine that he’d stay with us, but we can’t behave as if this topic wasn’t on the table.
“If he says ‘I’d like to do something else,’ then the really big [clubs] in Europe will be there and we can’t afford to fight financially.”
Jamie Carragher is backing Liverpool to spend “up to £200million” to rejuvenate their midfield at the end of the season and believes Jude Bellingham is the “perfect fit”.
The 19-year-old England international has excelled with Borussia Dortmund since joining the Bundesliga side in 2019 from Birmingham City and has been touted for a lucrative return to the Premier League.
Liverpool have long been seen as contenders for his services, though recent reports indicate Manchester City are leading the chase. Real Madrid are also said to hold a firm interest.
Landing Bellingham will take a substantial fee, likely one that would exceed Liverpool’s club-record of £75m spent on Virgil van Dijk in 2018, but Carragher believes that figure will be a “bargain” after he continues to develop.
“The issue is that the players don’t have the energy to play a full game at the intensity they’ve played at in previous seasons. Teams are now matching their energy, but this isn’t something that Liverpool has adapted,” he said on Sky Sports’ The Overlap.
“The Arsenal game was a fine example of this – when they played Liverpool off the pitch in the second half – and that is why I can see Liverpool spending up to £200m on their midfield in the summer.
“Jude Bellingham would be the perfect fit, but he would be a lot of money.
“When Liverpool have spent big money in the past, it’s been on the goalkeeper [Alisson Becker] and Virgil van Dijk, who were bought in at great age profiles.
“Signing Jude Bellingham would be for a lot of money, but it would get to two years down the line and people would see it as a bargain.
“At his age, you’d have him for at least five seasons before he’d move on, which is a great investment for the club.”
Liverpool sit eighth in the Premier League, 15 points adrift of leaders Arsenal and seven short of Tottenham in fourth.
Jude Bellingham donned the Borussia Dortmund captain’s armband for the first time on Saturday but couldn’t prevent his team losing to Cologne.
Head coach Edin Terzic had strong words for his players ahead of a big week.
Ahead of kick-off in Cologne, Borussia Dortmund head coach Edin Terzic sat down with Jude Bellingham for a quiet chat in the corner of the away dressing room.
In the absence of injured club captain Marco Reus and sick vice-captain Mats Hummels, the armband passed to the English teenager, officially third in the BVB captaincy pecking order.
“Is he the youngest captain in the history of Borussia Dortmund?” asked Terzic himself in a pre-match interview. “We don’t know. But he’s definitely old enough.”
Bellingham: ‘A dream come true’
The 19-year-old’s talents in dribbling, passing, composure, and defensive discipline have been clear for some time and his ability to turn defensive situations into offensive ones have often helped Dortmund out of tricky situations.
On Saturday afternoon, a typical drive forward opened up space behind the CologneCologne defense, before an inch-perfect pass into Julian Brandt allowed the German international open the scoring.
Bellingham’s double fist-pump and the yell of delight as he ran back towards to the centre circle after celebrating with his teammates showed how much it meant. A couple of hours later, however, his mood was very different.
After Cologne had produced an impressive second-half comeback to win 3-2, Bellingham led his teammates over to the traveling supporters, arms raised, palms facing outwards, an expression of acceptance of responsibility.
“When I first signed for this club, I never thought it would be possible,” he then told the Bundesliga’s official channel pitch-side. “But then I met the players and they gave me the belief that one day I could be captain.”
But as he trudged down the tunnel, his disappointment and anger at the result and performance became clear as he ignored waiting for journalists and hurled his coat onto the floor en route back to the dressing room, where he would speak to Terzic again.
Annoyed: BVB coach Edin Terzic cut a frustrated figure in Cologne
Terzic: ‘Brutal, annoying, bitter’
What exactly the head coach told his players will remain between those four walls, but the 39-year-old certainly cut a consternated figure as he spoke to reporters.
“For 15-20 minutes after half-time, in an important and decisive phase of the game, we weren’t prepared to invest all we had to defend our goal and win the ball back,” he said.
“When there were an extra three or four steps to take to get into the challenge, we weren’t prepared to do it. When you look at how we went into tackles at the start of the second half, it’s no wonder we ended up losing.
“And that annoys us. We’re annoyed that we once again have to ask these questions of ourselves. We’re annoyed as a coaching team that we can’t show 20 examples of good possession play tomorrow, but once again have to discuss the same topics.
“It’s brutal, it’s annoying, it’s bitter,” he concluded – for Bellingham as well, whose debut as captain ended in defeat, but whose reputation continues to grow.
“[Being captain] is something that other people have always mentioned to me, and I’ve always brushed it off,” he said. “But, I’m really grateful to have been given the chance today. “Still, I’m ultimately disappointed that we’ve lost.”
Sevilla and Bayern are to come
Dortmund officials are hopeful that vice-captain Hummels, who missed the trip to Cologne with a heavy cold, will be available again for the trip to Sevilla in the Champions League on Wednesday and for the visit next Saturday of Bayern Munich, who drew level on points with BVB thanks to their thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen.
Hummels’ return should not only see him resume his partnership with Nico Schlotterbeck but should also offer the experience and pedigree to implement Terzic’s demands.
As third-choice captain, Bellingham will also have a role to play.
Jude Bellingham will reportedly be available for just £83million next summer as long as the fee is paid up front.
The midfielder, 19, is being chased by Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United thanks to his accomplished performances for Borussia Dortmund and England.
His current employers are believed to want £130m to let him go but The Sun claim that their demands could take a significant reduction in order to secure the cash in a one-off payment.
The report adds that Pep Guardiola’s Citizens believe they have the money and draw to ensure they beat their rivals to the signature of one of the brightest talents in world football.
City won the race for former Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland last summer and the Norwegian has already racked up 11 goals in seven Premier League appearances.
Bellingham enjoys a good relationship with the prolific marksman and spoke highly of his former team-mate ahead of Dortmund’s Champions League defeat against the Citizens.
Liverpool have long been thought to be in pole position to sign the playmaker, who has made 100 first-team appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, as Jurgen Klopp looks to refresh his ageing midfield.
Big-spending Manchester United and Chelsea will also have their say in the pursuit, while Real Madrid have also been tipped to make a move.
In other news
Emi Martinez’s performances have caught the eye of Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are keeping tabs on Aston Villa stopper Emi Martinez in case they need a replacement for Jan Oblak, according to The Mirror.
The same outlet claim that Chelsea are ready to shell out £30m to land 17-year-old Fulham forward Luke Harris, who is in the Wales squad for tonight’s clash with Poland.
United are preparing to trigger a 12-month extension clause in Marcus Rashford’s contract to avoid losing him for nothing as talks drag on, report the Daily Star.
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