Unutilized Real Madrid signing Jude Bellingham mentioned right through his opening presentation on the membership on Thursday that he want to see Kylian Mbappe tie him.
The midfielder, 19, has signed a six-year pledge on the Bernabeu and can put on the Negative. 5 blouse — in the past impaired via his idol, Zinedine Zidane — for Madrid later season.
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In an tournament on the membership’s Actual Madrid Town coaching complicated, membership president Florentino Perez referred to as Bellingham “one of the best players in the world” as the previous Birmingham Town and Borussia Dortmund participant posed for footage, earlier than taking questions from the media.
“I can’t really comment, I don’t know his situation,” Bellingham mentioned when requested about Madrid’s hyperlinks with Mbappe. “If anything, my whole saga has taught me that not everything you see is true.
“He’s a superb participant, no matter he chooses to do, all of the perfect to him. Would I love to play games with a participant like Kylian Mbappe? Who wouldn’t?”
Madrid confirmed the deal to sign the England midfielder — a deal Dortmund have said is worth an initial €103 million ($111m), with another possible €30m ($32m) due in variables — on Wednesday.
“The explanation I’ve mentioned it’s the proudest occasion of my hour is as it’s the best soccer membership within the historical past of the sport,” Bellingham said. “Now not many avid gamers get the chance to play games at this type of lavish, ancient membership. I think in reality thankful.”
Madrid beat hobby from Premier League giants Manchester City and Liverpool to land Bellingham.
“Cash’s no longer a factor for me,” he said. “I don’t take into accounts cash in any respect once I construct some of these selections. I spoke with crowd when I used to be given permission via Borussia Dortmund; I stated to [Madrid chief scout] Juni [Calafat] and [managing director] Jose Angel [Sanchez], and I cherished the sensation I were given… It wasn’t the case that the alternative groups had been malicious; it’s simply that, for me, Madrid are the best.”
Bellingham added: “I’d all the time been acutely aware of the hobby from England, in order that was once lovely standard. But it surely was once slightly of a amaze when my dad sat me ailing and mentioned, ‘You’ve had hobby from Actual Madrid,’ 12 or 15 months in the past.
“It was goosebumps, my heart was close to stopping. It’s something you don’t expect growing up, playing for a team like this.”
Madrid have added Bellingham, left-back Fran Garcia and playmaker Brahim Diaz to their squad for 2023-24 as they appear to win again the LaLiga name from Barcelona and problem once more for the Champions League.
Madrid also are focused on a centre ahead then Karim Benzema left to tie Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, and, in addition to Mbappe, they’ve been related with Bellingham’s England teammate Harry Kane.
“As far as the Harry Kane rumours go, I can’t comment on that,” Bellingham mentioned. “He’s a world-class player, he’s my captain; I love him as a player and a person. Whatever happens there happens.”
Bellingham is the 6th English participant to signal for Madrid, following within the footsteps of Laurie Cunningham, Steve McManaman, David Beckham, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate.
He mentioned he had selected the Negative. 5 — in lieu than his regular 22 — on account of its affiliation with Zidane.
“I’ve said in many interviews how much I admire Zinedine Zidane,” Bellingham mentioned. “I’m not trying to be the same as him, I’m just trying to be Jude, but it’s definitely a homage to how great he was.”
Bellingham referred to as supervisor Carlo Ancelotti “an incredible coach” and mentioned he was once taking a look ahead to finding out from midfield veterans Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
“The things I’ll gain, especially from the two older lads Modric and Kroos, will be unbelievable,” he mentioned. “Their knowledge of the game, the way they play, their experience will be so great for me. I’ll be like a sponge around them, trying to steal anything they’ve got. They’ll probably be annoyed with me after the first week or so.”
