Jude Bellingham, Zidane's '5' and the "no" to the Premier: "The pedigree in Europe is important"
The giant smile of his father Mark, together with his mother Denise and his brother Jobe, was the smile of all Madrid fans. When Jude Bellingham turned the new Real Madrid shirt around, the number 5 appeared under his last name, his new number in the white team, Zinedine Zidane's 5, a historic number in the 21st century for Real Madrid. Jesús Vallejo, its previous owner, will now wear the '24'. “Thanks to Jesus, I have spoken with him and he has given me the number. I admire Zidane, I don't want to be like him because I'm different, but I admire him. The legacy he has at this club is incredible,” said the Englishman.
Bellingham's first day in Valdebebas reflected the “ambition” and the “work” that he and his family have had and done to see him dressed in white. “I know what you've worked for. Thank you for having this ambition”, praised Florentino Pérez, exultant in his speech to finally see the second most expensive signing in the club's history at home.
103 million for one of the great stars of world football. A 19-year-old boy who has left Dortmund and who, far from being satisfied with returning to the Premier League, to a team from his country, has decided to take the hardest but perhaps most rewarding path.. “You have done everything possible to fulfill your dream and I want to thank you”; Florentino insisted. “You have decided that your history had to be linked to that of the most prestigious club in world football,” added the president.
“Hello everyone, hello Madridistas”, greeted the Briton in perfect Spanish. His only words in Spanish during a short speech, barely a minute, thanking his former teams, Madrid, the president and Juni Calafat, and a sentence: “It is the most important day of my life.”
Bellingham, who has been the best player of the season in the Bundesliga and is the third most valuable footballer in the world (according to Transfermarkt) behind Haaland and Mbappé, will play for Madrid until 2029. “Money is not important to me,” explained the Englishman when asked about the reasons for his move to Madrid and his “no” to the Premier. “I liked the feeling of Madrid. The pedigree in Europe is important and the respect England has for Madrid is extraordinary.. Everyone told me to go to the Premier, surely it was logical, but I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I am where I want to be.”
The Englishman, who described himself as an “all-rounder”, admitted that “my heart skipped a beat when I learned of Madrid's interest”. He confessed that he has already spoken with Ancelotti, “an extraordinary coach”, and was eager to play alongside Kroos and Modric. “The combination of experience and youth is extraordinary.”