Jude Bellingham can become one of the greatest players in Real Madrid, explains the former boss of Los Blancos, Rafa Benitez.
The midfielder of England was a success in the Spanish capital since his move from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 and led his efforts to defend his champions league crown this season after having lifted the trophy during his first campaign at Bernabeu.
Bellingham scored the winner in the dramatic victory of Real 3-2 against Manchester City last week and should be the key for his progressive side in their eliminatory equality during the second stage on Wednesday.
In an interview with Sky Sports, the Spaniard Benitez thinks that the 21 -year -old has all the tools to become the last of a long list of big on the illustrious Laliga club.
The former real boss said: “He has the potential, yes. It is possible to do it, it is a matter of time. I have already said that modern football has changed a lot. In the past, players, they have people around, but they were more concentrated and you did not have social media, so you had less distractions.
“Now, they have so many people around, so much money, so easy to get what you want, and social media has so much influence that it is difficult to be coherent for five, 10 years.
“So we are talking about being better than [Alfredo] Di Stefano, to be better than Raul, to be better than [Emilio] Butragueno. You have to be really consistent to be better than them. He has the potential, yes.
“Can he do it for a few years?” It depends on the maturity that he is mature, then the people around him. »»
5️⃣ @Bellinghamjude
9️⃣ @Kmbappe pic.twitter.com/wyobdd3z1m– Real Madrid Cf 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 18, 2025
Real will do the job
Real Madrid scored two goals in the last five minutes in Etihad last Tuesday, allowing them to go home with a crucial advantage and Benitez thinks that his former team will do the job.
He added: “In theory, Real Madrid must attack, but I don’t think Carlo Ancelotti is worried. There will be this expectation now that Real will end the work at the Bernabeu.
“Manchester City does not have the same confidence they had in the past. But don’t forget that it is the Champions League, and Pep Guardiola has experience, and the players he has, they also have massive experience at European level.
“So I think anything can happen. When they have so much quality in the team, in the team, anything can happen. »»
