3 Thoughts On Real Madrid Sensation Jude Bellingham

It’s been nearly half a year since Jude Bellingham became a Real Madrid player, and he’s crammed a lot into six months.

Throughout, the 20-year-old has been the main act at the most successful club on Earth and starred once again in Wednesday’s victory over Napoli, which ensured the top spot in Champions League Group C—and guaranteed Real a combined €39 million ($42 million) in participation and performance bonuses, set to double up with further progress in the competition and coefficient or ranking payments from UEFA.

La Liga’s top scorer, Bellingham—who signed for €103 million ($112 million)—is averaging a goal a game, staggering for a midfield player. Only in the coming seasons, perhaps in a decade, will his entire impact on Madrid be measurable, but the early signs are frightening—in a good way for Real’s supporters.

Here are some finer points on what’s making him stand out.

He Merits The $100 Million-Plus Tag

If anyone warrants an upfront transfer breaking the nine-figure threshold, it’s midfielder Bellingham.

Of course, players are worth the amount teams, however rich, are willing to pay. Yet for every hit, some haven’t justified clubs’ mega investments. Philippe Coutinho and Eden Hazard spring to mind. One could add Ousmane Dembélé and João Félix to the group, too. A few, like Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicédo, may come good.

Bellingham’s skillset is broad. It includes pace, passing, and precise finishing. Another differential is how physically imperious the number five is, marauding forward and bulking up the midfield.

His father, Mark, who’s also played the game, has instilled in Bellingham—and his younger brother, Jobe—the discipline and physical attributes required to become a serious professional. Bellingham is showing those qualities in an ever-demanding sporting environment like Real, which suits him perfectly.

Alongside his flair, that’s proving an irresistible combination.

Bellingham’s Ability Is Just One Thing

The former Borussia Dortmund man has the skills, but what about his mentality? Well, call it arrogance or confidence, the player is assertive in his aspirations, wanting to be the best and to leave his mark on Los Blancos. “I want to win everything—club and country,” he said in a COPA90 documentary. “I want to change the game.”

For a player just past his teens to show that entitlement at Real is unique. And it’s more pronounced than what Gareth Bale, David Beckham, Michael Owen, and Steve McManaman—past galácticos hailing from the U.K.—had.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti has praised Bellingham since he arrived and offered a balanced perspective on his adjustments off the field. “He’s adapted well to the dressing room,” the Italian commented after the Napoli victory. “He has to improve his Spanish. As I’ve said many times, nobody is perfect.”

Bellingham has the Madrid character, even though he may never be like one of their own.

His Grassroots Spirit Remains

Many Spanish and South American players in La Liga would have sharpened up by playing futsal at a young age. Looking at Bellingham’s displays, he’s channeling another flavor—the Jude who ran around fields during Sunday soccer sessions as a child in the Midlands.

Bringing that same energy under the Santiago Bernabéu lights, it’s mad to consider that, not that long ago, he was a number breaking through the ultra-competitive ranks in England, quickly becoming more than that, with Birmingham City retiring his number 22 shirt after just a season. He’s not hung around either, seeing Borussia Dortmund—a huge team—as a stepping stone to Madrid when he could have waited longer.

Underlining this has been a free spirit, the Jude from back then seamlessly transported to the biggest stage with no baggage holding him back. Madridistas weren’t there to see him grow and grow quickly. But they hope today’s Jude—in his authentic form—never leaves them.