JUDE BELLINGHAM HAS BROUGHT SOMETHING TO REAL MADRID NOT SEEN SINCE CRISTIANO RONALDO

Fans from as far afield as Colombia and Venezuela are wearing an English name on their shirts, and recreating his trademark Christ the Redeemer goal celebration.

Jude Bellingham is the talk of the town – and for many a saviour – after a mesmerising first season with footballing giants Real Madrid. The 20-year-old from the West Midlands moved there from German side Borussia Dortmund for a fee that could reach £114million.

His mum Denise, 54, has moved over with him and sometimes drops him off at training. He has scored 21 goals – including a last-gasp winner against arch-rivals Barcelona last week – with the club in reach of domestic and European glory.

It is a huge impact at a club which once counted David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo among its Galacticos – stars who boast ability levels that are out of this world. The Mirror caught a glimpse of the fervour first-hand. Everywhere we looked we found people from all over the world wearing the club’s shirts.

Chief amongst these fans was Yoa Tamayo, 42, the Editor of the popular online fanzine Real News TV. He oversees more than 100 supporters' clubs worldwide and has been supporting the team since he was just four.

He said: “I have not seen anything like this since Cristiano Ronaldo but the difference is Jude is so young. He is a phenomenon, people already love him. He has all the makings of one of the greatest legends we have ever seen.”

Yoa explained that the secret to Jude’s success has been embracing life in the capital, something British predecessors such as Gareth Bale have been harshly criticised for not doing by the local press in the past.

He revealed that Jude’s Spanish is coming along well much to the delight of the fans. He added: “He plays like a veteran, like he has been here for years, and then you see him get driven by his mother and have to remember what a young man he really is. But he is learning Spanish and has time for everyone he meets so this humility has won over the fans as much as his performances on the pitch.”

This sentiment was echoed in Madrid’s smoky cafes and bars with one landlord Tonin el Torero saying Jude is already like family. The publican is a legend amongst Madridistas and celebrates every one of Real goals by headbutting a cowbell in his popular establishment.

He said: “What Bellingham has achieved here with us has been a marriage, something extraordinary because he has been able to adapt to the competitive values of Real Madrid, and he has known how to win, he will be the top scorer and he is also fully integrated into the universal Madridismo as something stellar.”

Cafe owner Juan Falces, who runs the cult Madrid bar La Terca which is a favourite amongst legendary Madrid players whose pictures adorn his walls, was also in awe of Jude’s influence.

He said: “All the kids want to be Bellingham, everyone wants to look like him, the impact has been spectacular. With his ways, his education, his manners, he carries Madrid. ”

Jude’s almost seamless transition to one of the biggest clubs in the world has been put down to his family. He and Denise live in a luxury villa in the west of the city near other Madrid stars. He is regularly visited by family and friends from home such as his talented brother Jobe, 18, who plays for Sunderland and has also reportedly caught the eye of Real’s scouts.

According to locals Jude can often be seen popping to local coffee shops for a quiet drink and is never seen partying the night away. Although he was linked to Dutch beauty Laura Celia Valk, 25, this week who is said to be “completely smitten” and has reportedly been staying at his home recently.

When he does venture into town he is known to frequent luxury Chinese restaurant Bao Li and has also been spotted with teammates at the De Maria eatery not far from the club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

DON'T SCRAP REPLAYS! Join our petition to keep the magic of the FA Cup alive!

But as Jude himself recently said he prefers to keep a low profile. He said: “There are times when I go out to have a coffee near my house or go downtown to eat. Then I go back home to rest for a while in the garden if it’s sunny.

“If my friends are here, we go out to dinner and back home. It’s really nice. You meet people in the places you go to most. They don’t see you as Jude Bellingham the footballer, just Jude who comes to have a coffee and that’s great. The people I meet in the city look after me a lot. I feel at home.”

This week when he was awarded the Laureus World Sports Breakthrough of the Year award and performed his trademark celebration on the red carpet with sprinter Usain Bolt. The fans are eyeing more silverware as Real stand atop the league and hope to book a Champions League final spot at Wembley on June 1.

This could mark a fairytale ending to a glittering year for Jude with the club aiming for a record 15th Champions League title. Tonin believes one man will lead them to victory. He said: “I am convinced that Jude will lift the 15th and score in the final.”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

2024-04-26T19:28:54Z dg43tfdfdgfd