Jude Bellingham steals the spotlight with legendary jersey choice at Real Madrid debut

Jude Bellingham exuded confidence and professionalism at his unveiling press conference, dressed impeccably in a smart dark suit and tie. His parents, visibly proud yet nervous, watched on as he was presented with his new No 5 shirt. If his performance on the pitch is as impressive as his demeanor off it, Bellingham has the potential to shine at Real Madrid.

The assembled media and local press were immediately struck by Bellingham's self-assured, relaxed, and confident demeanor when he took the stage. To his left, Real Madrid executives appeared slightly tense and on edge upon Bellingham's entrance, but within minutes, one of them leaned against the wall, let out an audible sigh of relief, and smiled, as Bellingham had effortlessly won over the entire room.

He effortlessly took on the responsibility of donning the legendary No 5 jersey at Real Madrid, previously worn by Zinedine Zidane. When asked about the pressure that comes with it, he gracefully sidestepped and instead expressed his excitement about the opportunity to further cement the shirt's iconic status by building on Zidane's accomplishments. However, Bellingham remains grounded and connected to his roots. Despite being a proud wearer of the No 5 jersey now, he still considers himself to be forever number 22 at heart.

Bellingham evaded the question regarding the significance of being the seventh British player to play for Real Madrid and his desire for an eighth player, specifically Harry Kane. Instead, he spoke about his enjoyable experience playing alongside Kane for England and expressed his admiration for him.

Regarding a possible transfer of Kane to Spain, Bellingham chose not to comment, nor did he offer any thoughts on the prospect of playing alongside Kylian Mbappe when asked a similar question. Although he did deflect the question, he couldn't resist teasing, "Who wouldn't want to play with Mbappe?" However, before delving into those topics, the most pressing question of the day was why Real Madrid? It was Bellingham's answer that truly won over the local press and media assembled at the club's training ground.

The player emphasized that it was an easy decision not to play for Real Madrid, citing how he and his parents were treated by the club. He also spoke highly of Dortmund's handling of his transfer and how impressed he was with their professionalism. Bellingham's comments suggested that he was committed to joining Madrid if they showed interest, leaving little room for other clubs to compete for his signature.

He said the money wasn't an issue in response to a question that he could've earned more by playing in the Premier League. Bellingham wasn't tempted by that.

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Jude Bellingham undergoes medical checks at Real Madrid.

He came to Real Madrid with a clear intention to learn and grow as a player, even stating that he wanted to be like a sponge and absorb knowledge from experienced players such as Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. Bellingham's first impression at the club was impressive, especially considering the magnitude of Real Madrid as a football club.

Where will Bellingham fit in at Real Madrid?

During Bellingham's peak performance at the World Cup with England, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti shared his opinion on the midfielder's standing among the world's best young players. "Bellingham is undoubtedly one of them," the Italian stated. "However, I will remain loyal to my current midfielders, particularly the young ones who have proven to be exceptional."

Despite Bellingham's high demand as a midfielder in the upcoming transfer window, Real Madrid's history and success in that position cannot be overlooked. This raises the question of where Bellingham fits in and whether he can secure a spot in the starting line-up.

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