Why Real Madrid have fallen in love with a 20-year-old Englishman, Jude Bellingham.

Real Madrid’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu after vacating  its home stadium due to construction work was meant to be a cause for celebration for Madridistas, but as time passed, Getafe was holding the Spanish powerhouse to a 1-1 tie.

Jude Bellingham enters the game in the final minutes of regulation and is the first to a rebound from goalie David Soria, prodding the ball into the goal to secure Madrid’s fourth straight victory and his second consecutive late match-winner. The 20-year-old held his arms out in front of a wall of sound, tugged at the club’s insignia on his shirt, and pointed upward.

Bellingham later told Real Madrid TV that it was the biggest cheer he had ever heard on a football pitch.

To be honest, I found it hard to believe. I experienced shivers as they signed “Hey Jude” at the conclusion. My legs were shaking, and all I wanted to do was turn and stand still and listen to it.

🤩 ¡Cuando marcas tu primer gol en el Bernabéu!
5️⃣ @BellinghamJude #RealMadridGetafe pic.twitter.com/xjHUfFbK6m

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 3, 2023

Jude Bellingham, who has already scored five goals in just four La Liga games, is already known for his goal-scoring celebration while wearing Real Madrid’s iconic white shirt.

After Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo, Bellingham is the only Real Madrid player in history to have scored in each of his first four La Liga contests.

He was honoured as La Liga’s player of the month for August, his first month in the league, for his contribution to Madrid’s undefeated start to the year.

 

After the victory on Saturday, Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti highlighted that Bellingham had adapted to the group. His integration was demonstrated by a trip Bellingham had with some other young players and the sharing of photos on social media with French stars Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga.

On Saturday, Bellingham said, “I don’t know what I did to deserve that, but I’m very appreciative. “I give my all every time I put on this shirt, and I intend to keep doing so,”

Expectations were high for Bellingham when he signed with Real Madrid in June for a reported sum of €103 million ($110.4 million).

 

During his time with Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham became the youngest-ever Bundesliga captain, leading the German team while he was still just 19 years old. He was renowned for his broad skill set as well as his maturity and leadership qualities.

 

Expectations were increased even further when he decided to wear the No. 5 jersey instead of his usual No. 22, Zinedine Zidane, a legendary midfielder.

Ancelotti described Bellingham as a “very important” player for Real Madrid, and so far it appears that he is settling into that role. If Los Merengues didn’t have Bellingham’s goal participations (goals plus assists) this season, they would have seven fewer points and be in the bottom half of the table.

After Bellingham made his preseason debut, Ancelotti praised the youngster, calling him “a fantastic player… a complete midfielder and he brings real pace and intensity to the game.” He is distinct from the other midfielders we have and moves really well without the ball.

According to Bellingham, the Bernabéu is a “place like no other,” as he put it after scoring the game-winning goal on Saturday. “Mi Casa”