Jude Bellingham: ‘Indifference’ in Real Madrid to blockbuster signing, ‘sadness’ at Borussia Dortmund

Eurosport experts Adrian Garcia and Florian Bogner gave contrasting views on Real Madrid’s blockbuster signing of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund.

Bellingham will join Eduardo Camavinga, Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni as the four players expected to take over from Casemiro (already at Manchester United), Toni Kroos, 33, and Luka Modric, 37, in midfield at the Bernabeu.

Eurosport Spain’s Garcia explained: “The Bellingham transfer is the piece to replace Luka Modric. Carlo Ancelotti’s mission is to build the Real midfield of the future.

“Camavinga, Tchouameni, Valverde, and Bellingham will battle it out as four potential solutions for three spots in the team.”

Modric looks set to stay at Real for at least one more season while Kroos is also set to continue for the 2023/24 campaign.

With the addition of Bellingham, head coach Carlo Ancelotti will have a wealth of options at his disposal.

Garcia added: “Valverde is the most versatile player, and with Camavinga available too, I think Bellingham will grow up step by step, especially if Modric and Kroos will play on for another season.”

Despite the anticipation of many fans of Liverpool and other clubs who had been chasing Bellingham, Garcia said that for Real “the reaction has been very indifferent, Real fans are waiting for the possibility to sign Kylian Mbappe this summer.

“Besides, Dortmund announced the transfer last week and Real has delayed the official announcement one week. So people already know that Jude is in the house.”

Eurosport Germany’s Bogner had a brighter impression, having seen Bellingham in the Bundesliga, where he came agonisingly close to winning a league title this year.

He admitted: “Not many had heard of him before, so 25m euros for a young guy from a second-tier club raised some eyebrows.

“So the anticipation level was higher than [Jadon] Sancho’s, but he delivered. He performed above Sancho, for sure. Mostly because he was a central midfielder and really stamped his name on Dortmund.

“He was tired in the last third of the season, not at his best level, but overall he will be seen as one of the better players the Bundesliga had and it’s sad that he is leaving.”