WAHEY JUDE
Bellingham fever is gripping Madrid... we see it in action
He has all the makings of one of the greatest legends we have seen
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 among Madridistas and celebrates every one of Real’s 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 among 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. He has been 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 team-mates at the De Maria restaurant not far from the club’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
But, as Jude recently explained, Jude 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 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.”