Jude Bellingham has changed the fortunes of Real Madrid. The 20-year-old midfielder had already won hearts in the Bundesliga as he led his former team, Borussia Dortmund, to a second-place finish. The English international was then signed by Los Blancos for a staggering fee of $111 million, a nominal price for a player who is currently the top scorer in La Liga. Having seen his performances, a former coach of the Englishman was quick to draw comparisons with Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane.

With his current form for Real Madrid and achievements at Dortmund, Bellingham won the Kopa Trophy at the recent Ballon d’Or event. Moreover, his former head coach’s words will surely sway his heart.

Jude Bellingham gets praised by his former head coach

Jude Bellingham’s rise to the top wouldn’t have been possible without the support of his youth academy club. The player was showered with applause by his former head coach at Birmingham City. Pep Clotet drew comparisons with Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane to explain how it’s not a surprise that he’s hit prime level so soon.

Clotet said, “I think this comparison with Zidane is maybe more for the position or for these like last pass that he’s doing now. Very good of his ability. With Jude I think it’s one of a kind, I think Zidane is one of a kind. I think Messi is one of a kind. Jude has one thing that very, very few players had in history. Bellingham is a complete midfielder. Jude is a player who could play anywhere in the jayajamiddle of the pitch, anywhere.”

He further added, “He played as a wide midfielder coming in and having his play inside. He played as an inside player. He played as a box-to-box. Now he’s playing in this position behind the strikers to link, what this midfield can create to transform it into a strong attack. For me he is a complete midfielder, he is what a midfielder should be.”

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Clotet’s praise shows how proud he is of Bellingham. Although the Englishman is unlocking new levels of stardom, he hasn’t forgotten his roots. After his El Clasico debut, the former Dortmund player went to meet Clotet, who had come to witness him playing.

Bellingham appreciates Clotet’s gesture

Jude Bellingham seized the spotlight with a remarkable goal in the 68th-minute  =in the recent El Clasico against Barcelona. The 20-year-old midfielder didn’t just stop there as he went on to score the game’s winning goal in added time. Cementing his position as an undeniable talent, Bellingham currently looks like Madrid’s main cog.

Pep Clotet, Bellingham’s former head coach at Birmingham City, witnessed his protege’s outstanding performance from the stands. He shared a post on Instagram featuring a snapshot of Bellingham after the match. The young Real Madrid midfielder reciprocated the gesture, expressing his gratitude with a heartfelt caption, “Thanks for everything @pepclotet (heart emoji).”

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Clotet’s pivotal role in Bellingham’s career journey is evident; he introduced the 16-year-old talent to Birmingham City’s first-team squad when he was promoted to manager from assistant manager. The club even retired the number 22 jersey Bellingham wore as a tribute to one of their own and as an inspiration for future players.