- Bellingham has become one of Real Madrid’s star players since joining in 2023
- Spanish press say he has displayed strong leadership skills so far this season
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Jude Bellingham has been named as a future Real Madrid captain by the Spanish press.
The England international has become one of Los Blancos’ star players since his £113million move from Borussia Dortmund in 2023.
He lead the club to La Liga and Champions League glory in debut campaign to remember last season having scored 23 goals.
Bellingham started this season slowly but has once again returned to form by scoring six goals in his last six appearances across all competitions.
And Spanish outlet AS have not held back in their praise of the midfielder, naming him the ‘new boss of Madrid’.
The publication claim he has what it takes to become Real’s captain in the future given the work rate and leadership he has displayed over the past month and a half.
Jude Bellingham has been named as a future Real Madrid captain by the Spanish press
The England international has become a key player for the Spanish giants since joining in 2023
One of the outlet’s reasoning is Bellingham’s decision to take pressure off Kylian Mbappe earlier this month by taking the first penalty in their 2-0 win over Getafe, with the Frenchman then scoring the second spotkick in the match.
Bellingham’s all-action capabilities are also pointed out, with the 21-year-old a vital player in attack and defence given he has covered 59 kilometres in the Champions League so far this season, more than any of his team-mates.
During last weekend’s 3-0 win at Girona, he told off Arda Guler for making a bad decision on the ball but went on to assist the youngster’s goal, and Bellingham was later seen hugging him on the bench. The Turkish star is said to have been delighted.
Real are delighted with the Birmingham-born star. He has shown why he was a ‘strategic signing’, a label reserved only for players who are seen as the backbone of the team on the pitch as well as in the media.
Bellingham’s latest goal came against Atalanta in midweek, with Real having went into the Champions League clash needing a win after falling behind their rivals and into a position that could see them dropped out of Europe entirely.
His goal was particularly impressive as he dropped the shoulder to send the Atalanta defender stumbling before cutting onto his left and smashing it into the net as the Spanish giants went on to claim a 3-2 win.
After the match, Bellingham joined Micah Richards for an interview with CBS Sports, where the pundit couldn’t help but dishing out a big huge to the Madrid star.
Richards then asked Bellingham about the match against Atalanta and his recent prolific form in front of goal.
Bellingham was furious with Arda Guler (right) at Girona but was seen celebrating with the youngster after he set him up
The 21-year-old has covered more ground than all his team-mates in the Champions League
On the match, he said: ‘[It was] Difficult. They played really well. They have amazing weapons and it’s a difficult atmosphere to play in. But it’s important that we got the job done as we needed those points’.
‘I think we were clinical in the end. We took our chances that came to us. They probably had most of the ball but in areas that were comfortable for us. But it was such a difficult game and it makes the win even better’.
He then addressed his goal, saying: ‘I didn’t know where the ball was going! I had to duck and I was waiting for it to hit my back and for everyone to start booing me.
‘But luckily I managed to get one-vs-one in the box and I swung anything at it and it went in!’
Bellingham then addressed Yeah, even before I was scoring goals, it was frustrating for me because I felt I was playing well.
‘But because of the expectations I set last season, I’m always wanting to affect the game with goals and assists as well. If I can score goals and directly influence the game, then it makes me a lot more valuable to the team and that’s all I want to be. Hopefully I’ve got the sniff back for it!’
