Southgate suggests Jude Bellingham could already be the world’s best player

Real Madrid manager Gareth Southgate has praised Real Madrid's 20-year-old striker, Bellingham, for his outstanding form and performance.

Chirag

October 8, 2023

Gareth Southgate is known for his level-headed approach, but even he can recognize a compelling argument for such a claim regarding the Real Madrid star.

Southgate conceded, “It’s not a stupid question. “I haven’t seen everybody and studied everybody playing. All I can say it is he’s at the one of the biggest clubs in the world — arguably the biggest — and he’s playing exceptionally well.”

“He’s currently the match winner for them so he’s in a brilliant place.”

In Spain, pundits have drawn comparisons between Bellingham, who is 20 years old, and legends like Diego Maradona and Alfredo di Stefano, especially after his solo goal in Real’s Champions League victory against Napoli.

Additionally, Bellingham’s two goals in yesterday’s match against Osasuna bring his tally to eight goals in eight LaLiga games since his £115 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

Bellingham will be seeking to increase his goal count in the upcoming friendly against Australia at Wembley on Friday and the Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy four days later.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has positioned Bellingham in a more advanced role following the sale of center-forward Karim Benzema.

Southgate remarked, “We played him higher against Scotland, he had that freedom in the Ukraine game as well — and we didn’t use the ball well enough in the final third.”

“But he’s always looked dangerous and had an impact around the opposing box with Dortmund and with us, without looking quite as calm as he has this season in front of goal.”

“Real have found a nice balance with the athletic midfield they have behind and, having lost Benzema and lost Vinicius to injury, they have been adapting.”

Southgate humorously added, “He’s been defending on the left wing in a couple of games — I can just imagine the reaction from all and sundry if I asked him to do that!”