It is no exaggeration to say Jude Bellingham amazed us all since joining Real Madrid. Even the most experienced player could not have expected to perform as he has since joining Los Blancos, with his most recent exploits seeing him scoring twice in Saturday’s Clasico win over Barcelona.
After win the Kopa Trophyawarded to the best young player in the world under the age of 21, during Monday’s Ballon d’Or gala, the Englishman spoke to the French newspaper The Team for a lengthy interview, discussing, among other things, his beginnings in football, his idols growing up (spoiler alert, Zinedine Zidane included) and what it means to don the famous white jersey.
The impact of the Bellingham family on Jude’s career
Parental influence: “I have a close relationship with my mother and father, which gives me balance. I received different things from my parents. They had a job their whole life before managing my career. Then I saw how they handled situations, especially after I turned professional. They do a very good job, without having any real experience, and I always wonder how they do it. I admire them for how they can find themselves in any situation and be the best at it.
Family acting as agent: “Yes, it is crucial for me. Many players deal with agents who are more interested in money than the best interests of their clients. I never thought about it because I always had my parents to talk to about it. They care about my well-being and know that our dreams are aligned. When agents are involved, they have their own motivations, their desire to make money… For me, it’s never about that. I just want this to be about my family. Plus, it leads to great dinner table conversations. We can talk about anything, the films or something that happened, “besides, Real Madrid are interested”.
The world of football: “I saw people very close to me going down the wrong path. If you enjoy football as a sport, you will always be rewarded. If you’re playing for attention and fame, that’s not the way to go, in my opinion.
Dad Mark Goal hero: “Yes, he never lets me forget it, to be honest, he talks about it a lot. Even when I score, he always says: ‘Yes, but I would have scored three or four more.’
England midfielder ‘didn’t like football at first’
Childhood dream: “Playing for England. This has always been the case. (…) If someone had told me when I was younger, I would spend three years in Germany then I would go to Spain without ever having played in the Premier League, I would have been shocked.
Training with his father as a child: “At first I didn’t like football. I know it sounds unbelievable, because if someone took football away from me right now, I would go crazy. I went to his sessions and picked the grass and flowers. I used to make a little bouquet of daisies for my mother. My parents never pressured me. My dad kept taking me, but he said, “If you want to play hide and seek or pick flowers, you can do that.” And then I was hooked… You talked about freedom, and that’s something I had as a kid. My parents never forced me to do anything as long as I was a good child and took care of others.
The football virus: “It comes from competition. I have always been very competitive. Even playing hide and seek. (…) Growing up, I had a lot of problems, especially when I lost. I was a nightmare for others. I didn’t want to shake people’s hands. I learned that you have to show respect… It was probably the competition that made me love the game 100%.
Madrid legend Zidane ‘so humble and a great coach’
Idols: “I idolized the players from Birmingham City, the team that won the League Cup at Wembley (2-1 against Arsenal in 2011). My heroes were Seb Larsson, Craig Gardner and Lee Bowyer. As I became more interested in football, my father became the most important person. Then my first role models were Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, just because they played in England. And then, as we grow up, we start watching football. My father had a fake Zidane jersey that he bought on the beach. He wore it everywhere, often at home. One day I asked him, “Who is this guy anyway?” He replied: “Go to YouTube and take a look. » Since then, I probably haven’t stopped. Zidane was the player I wanted to be. I had the chance to meet him during the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool (1-0 in 2022). I was like a child, eyes wide open. He is so humble for someone who has accomplished so much. He has such an incredible presence. And according to the guys who played here with him, he was a great coach. It’s just as important.
Zidane and the number 5 jersey: “It’s a sort of homage, of course. But at the same time, I’m charting my own path, and it’s almost like I’m taking it and shaping it in my own way, making the number what I want it to be: Madrid’s modern number 5.
Birmingham City retires their number 22 jersey: “They told me ‘no one will wear it until you get back to Birmingham’. I was like, “Really?!” »I had a good year (2019-2020), but it was nothing special. I looked around. “But wait, are we allowed to do this? “But I understand the club’s position and its decision. My transfer saved the club, which was in a difficult situation.
An old head on young shoulders: “I’ve heard a lot about how I carry myself on the field and how I react to situations. The problem is people put you on a pedestal. And then I make little mistakes, I’m human, I lose my mind, and people almost say “oh look, he’s not that mature”. The truth is I have it in me. I am not a robot.
The Real Madrid jersey “like a superhero costume”
First time in the real Madrid changing room. “I was a little stressed. I was never impressed with star players. But when you come here, with what they’ve accomplished, it’s hard not to think: ‘Wow, this is the pinnacle of football.’ The first few weeks, when I was getting to know them, I was eating next to Toni (Kroos) and I was like, “Is he eating gold?” And then you realize that these are normal guys who help you feel good. They are very humble. This is a big lesson for me. No matter how successful you are, no matter what you’ve won, you can still be a great human being like these guys, who are an inspiration as players and men.
This is the first time I put on the white jersey. “I can’t describe it. It’s a dream come true. It’s such a famous jersey. When you put it on, you almost feel like you’re wearing a superhero costume. It’s a privilege, an honor. You have to have a certain level to wear it week after week.
Feel unique: “Sometimes I feel a little unique, yes. A little bit because of my age and things like that. People like to remind me of that, how young I am and that sometimes you have to take it slow. Sometimes you sit there for a while and think, “I’m doing pretty well.” But when you look at football day by day, with the ‘today I have to be better than yesterday’ approach, you focus more on the negative aspects that need to be improved. That’s how I was raised.
Bellingham’s goal in the Champions League
Adaptability: “You have to dive in head first. You can’t just dip your toes in to test the waters. You have to accept the adventure. It’s sometimes difficult, but you have to be involved. And then you have to keep a cool head, not get carried away. I have to keep moving forward, whether people say good or bad things about me.
Racism in football: “It’s a very important topic to me, although it’s something people my age might want to avoid because it can be controversial. If I were to check the messages and comments I received on my phone in the last twenty-four hours, I know I would find some racist ones. Now I have thick skin, but I have developed an awareness of how it can affect others.
Objectives for the next five years. “I hope to win five Champions Leagues, a European Championship and maybe a World Cup. I am always as optimistic as possible. I don’t see the point in playing thinking you’re going to lose. Every year you have to go into every competition thinking you can win it. Otherwise, what’s the point?
