Jude Bellingham is an “alien” and one of the natural heirs to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, says legendary Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci.
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England international starring for BlancosSet to become one of the best in the worldWill be following in illustrious footstepsWHAT HAPPENED?
The former Juventus centre-half has seen some of the very best to have ever played the game over the course of his long and distinguished career. England international Bellingham is among those to be catching his eye at present, with the 20-year-old midfielder making a stunning impact at Real Madrid.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALWHAT BONUCCI SAID ABOUT BELLINGHAM
Bonucci has told of Bellingham possessing unwordly talent that should put him in Ballon d’Or contention at some stage, as he follows in the footsteps of all-time greats Messi and Ronaldo: “[Bellingham is] an alien. I am very surprised. Not because of the quality, as was known. Because of how a 20-year-old boy has adapted to a team like Real Madrid. That takes time. He, like few greats, has not needed it. That’s why he’s an alien. His maturity at 20 years old is impressive. He is clearly a Ballon d’Or candidate in the coming years. The young people who call the place of the two non-earthlings of recent years are already arriving.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Bonucci has revealed that he came close to being a Real Madrid player himself at one stage, with the 36-year-old currently in Germany with Union Berlin: “There was a moment when I was very close to being a Real Madrid player, to wearing the white shirt. It was a dream. I have great admiration for the large number of champions who have passed through the club. And, furthermore, they have a great maestro on the bench in Ancelotti. It was the summer of 2017 after they beat us [Juventus] in the [Champions League] final in Cardiff. The negotiations between my agent and Madrid intensified a lot. But it didn’t close. In the end, they looked for a younger player and not a thirty-something. It was a nice one, even if it didn’t close. I have love, respect and admiration for Madrid.”
GettyWHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?
Bellingham was deemed worthy of a move to Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2023 and has proved himself capable of becoming another ‘Galactico’ for the Blancos while also walking away with prestigious Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy awards – as he is recognised as the best young player on the planet.