Bellingham on six months at Madrid: ‘Feel like a gladiator’،
Jude Bellingham said playing at the Bernabéu made you “feel like a real gladiator”, reflecting on his first six months at Real Madrid, and said he hoped to maintain his form at the club for “many seasons to come”. come”.
Bellingham has scored 18 goals in 26 games for Madrid this season since arriving from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
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Madrid travel to Getafe in La Liga on Thursday, where a win would move them two points clear of title rivals Girona at the top of the table.
“You always know that Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world,” Bellingham told Real Madrid TV. “But then it's just different when you experience it. Especially at the Bernabéu, with the new setup and the way it looks and everything, it's just amazing. It's like playing at the Colosseum. You feel like a real gladiator. It's so cool that you don't understand how big the club is.”
“There's no place you can go where people don't recognize you. Sometimes that's a good thing and sometimes it's a bad thing,” Bellingham added.
“You just realize it's a step forward in class, in everything really. But also the other side of the coin when you come to training every day, the players are always quite calm, the coach is really calm. It's a good environment to work and express yourself and be creative with your football.
Bellingham's performances for Madrid saw him win the 2023 Golden Boy Award for best European player under the age of 21, as well as the Ballon d'Or Kopa trophy for the world's best footballer under the age of 21. He has enjoyed a record start to life in Spain, scoring 14 goals in his first 15 games in Madrid, surpassing the records of club legends Alfredo Di Stefano and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I feel at home in the city,” Bellingham said. “My family is comfortable. I've had friends who have really enjoyed the city. The fans are really respectful, they treat me so kindly, which I'm really grateful for, and obviously with the team and the staff , I feel like I've been here for years.
“I'm really happy with this start. It's just about maintaining it now over the course of a season, and many seasons to come, at this great club.”
Real Madrid face a series of matches this month that could define their season. They host Atlético Madrid in La Liga on Sunday, before playing Girona at the Bernabéu on February 10, followed by their Champions League last-16 first leg at RB Leipzig three days later.
“It’s always important to perform individually, but it doesn’t really matter if the team doesn’t win,” Bellingham said. “Seeing that so far we are top of La Liga, with a trophy already and top of our Champions League group… so far, so good.
“We are obviously out of the Copa [after losing to Atlético] which is a shame. But overall, what makes me most proud is the team's success and the fact that I was able to contribute to it. The team and the players on the team are playing incredibly well, which helps me a lot. It’s a team game and I’m just trying to play my role.”
