Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham has said French icon Zinedine Zidane is his idol in the game.
Zidane also played at Laliga outfit Real Madrid as a midfielder. He was at the Spanish club from 2001 to 2006.
Bellingham has been in incredible form since he moved to Spain from German club Borussia Dortmund in the last summer transfer window.
The 20 year old is currently the topscorer in Laliga with 10 goals and two assists in 10 games this season so far.
He won the Kopa Trophy which is presented to the best young player of the year at Ballon d’Or ceremony which was held at the Theater du Chatelet in France on October 30.
In an interview with L’Equipe, Bellingham said the number five shirt he wears at Real Madrid is a tribute to Zidane.
“My first models were Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard simply because they played in England,” Bellingham said.
“And then when you grow up, you start watching football. My dad had a fake Zidane shirt that he had bought on the beach. He took it everywhere, often at home. One day I asked him ‘By the way, who is that guy? He replied ‘Go on YouTube and check him out.’ Since then I haven’t stopped.
“Zidane was the player I wanted to be. I was lucky enough to meet him during the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool (1-0 in 2022). I was like a kid, wide eyed. It’s so humbling for someone who has achieved so much. He gave off a great presence. And according to the guys who played with him here, he was a great coach. That is just as important.
“It’s a kind of a tribute of course. But at the same time I want to follow my own path and it’s almost like taking it a d shaping it my way, making this number what I want it to be: Madrid’s modern number five.”
Zidane won the 2001/02 edition of the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid.
He won FIFA World Player Of The Year three times (1998, 2000 and 2003).
Bellingham has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 13 games across all competitions for Los Blancos this season.
Real Madrid are currently first in Laliga with a total of 28 points after 11 matches.
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