According to famous player Steve McManaman, midfielder Jude Bellingham is creating a greater influence in the Real locker room than Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, and Luis Figo when these three legends first joined the club.
“Figo, Ronaldo, and Zidane when they first entered the dressing room did not have the same impact as Bellingham does today. It’s extraordinary that he can do that at the age of 20,” said McManaman – a former midfielder with 158 appearances for Real. in all arenas – told TNT Sports on May 1.
In the summer of 2023, Bellingham joined Real for 110 million USD from Dortmund and is the most expected rookie at the Bernabeu. Although he has not yet won any major titles with Real, the English midfielder still proved his value by contributing 21 goals and 10 assists in 37 matches in all competitions, with Real approaching the La Liga championship and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. .
McManaman played for Real from 1999 to 2003, and saw all three superstars, Figo in 2000, Zidane in 2001 and Ronaldo Nazario in 2002, join the Madrid team. Figo and Zidane were the mainstays of Real, which won the La Liga and Champions League double in 2002. Ronaldo was not as successful, but still left his mark with 103 goals in 177 matches.
According to McManaman, Bellingham’s brilliant performance shows that Real is right to accelerate the transition process in the summer of 2023, saying goodbye to Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard or Marco Asensio. The 52-year-old player praised Bellingham for meeting expectations for a huge transfer fee at the age of 19 with an impressive scoring record, scoring in both rounds of El Clascio, helping Real win the Spanish Super Cup, advancing close to winning the La Liga title and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League. “
Also on TNT Sports, former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves assessed his junior’s outstanding maturity. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a player do that,” the former Man Utd midfielder said. “Bellingham took the number 5 shirt of Zidane, one of Real’s iconic players. He is a special talent, with his body language, his way of expressing himself on the field as well as in the dressing room. It’s hard to believe that a 19-20 year old player can do that.”
On April 30, Bellingham was again lackluster and received the lowest score (5 points) on Real’s side in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Bayern. The 20-year-old midfielder touched the ball 61 times, passed 90% accurately with one key pass, successfully dribbled the ball twice, and did not finish once. He was replaced by Luka Modric from the 75th minute.
However, coach Carlo Ancelotti still protects Bellingham. “He will return to his best form,” the Real coach said. “Bellingham was affected after injury, not at his best but will quickly return. He will be ready for the return match.”
Ancelotti added that the Real team did not play at their best in the 2-2 draw with Bayern in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, and will show a different face when they return to the Bernabeu home field on May 8. He sees the opportunity for the two teams to reach the final as still open but is confident that Real will win thanks to the support of the home crowd.