Jude Bellingham exclusive: Englishman 'loving every aspect' of life at Real Madrid as he plots Manchester City downfall
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Updated 17/04/2024 at 17:18 GMT+1
Jude Bellingham believes he is thriving under the responsibility thrust upon him in his debut season at Real Madrid. The midfielder will hoping to secure a league and European Cup double with the Spanish outfit this season. Manchester City stand in their way in the Champions League. After a 3-3 draw in the first leg, Bellingham says everything is to play for as they head to the Etihad Stadium.
'Man City are definitely a puzzle!' - Bellingham determined to solve riddle with Real
Jude Bellingham has exclusively told TNT Sports that he loves being the main man at Real Madrid.
The England international joined Los Blancos last summer in a big-money move from Borussia Dortmund, and has starred in his debut campaign in Spain.
Thirty-four appearances have yielded 20 goals, four of which have come in the club's charge to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Carlo Ancelotti's side will look to reach the last-four of the competition when they face Manchester City on Wednesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
And with the tie finely poised at 3-3, Bellingham is hoping he can steal the show on his return to England, as Real look to avenge last year's 4-0 defeat to the same opponents.
"It's brilliant," he said. "I'm loving it, every aspect of it. The playing side of it, out in the city with the fans, having family and friends over is really nice as well. Just trying to involve myself in a new culture is massive.
"I think I had brilliant conversations with a couple of teams in England. When Real Madrid came in, it was a bit of a no-brainer.
"The things they said, the way they made me feel, it couldn't be repeated by anybody else. I think now, I'm reaping the rewards of that this year. I feel so grateful every time I go to training.
"It's a responsibility I've always wanted, but I didn't think it would come as quickly as it has. When I was watching the game last year, I was on my sofa in Dortmund and I was already out!
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"You do think 'I can't wait to get to play in games like that one day' and learn off players that I'm now learning off. I feel so fortunate, to be honest, and so grateful for how everyone's received me and the guidance they've given me, and hopefully I can repay them."
Federico Valverde's late goal earned Real a 3-3 draw in the first leg at the Bernabeu, meaning the tie is all-square ahead of the return fixture at the Etihad Stadium.
The winner will go through to face either Bayern Munich or Arsenal in the semi-finals.
But progressing will not be easy for Los Blancos, given their opponents are the defending champions, having lifted the European Cup for the first time by beating Inter Milan 1-0 last year.
Real Madrid, of course, have won the trophy a record 14 times - for Bellingham, though, this is a first tilt at European glory.
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"It would mean the world to me," he continued. "These are the games you prepare for all season. The games that everyone wants to play in, everyone talks about. It would be great to deliver, for my team-mates, for my manager and for my family who are coming to watch me."
And the clamour for tickets towards Bellingham has been huge.
"Honestly, I've had to turn my phone off a fair few times," he joked.
The 20-year-old will be hoping to put on a show for the lucky family and friends he has in attendance, and is confident of progressing to the next round.
Indeed, despite conceding three goals in the first leg, Bellingham believes Real put in a solid performance - one that they can build upon in Manchester.
"I didn't think there would be that many goals," he added. "I thought it would be a bit closer, but you've got to adapt to what happens.
"The key thing is we go into this game all square. Whether you want to break it down or not, it's technically 0-0. Whoever wins it takes it and goes through. That's a good way to think about it instead of worrying about what's happened.
"You prepare for it like it's a new game. You take the lessons from that one and get ready to compete again.
"It was a good performance in terms of our structure defensively. We didn't allow them a lot.
"If you look at the goals they scored, they're three brilliant goals. That kind of thing, you take confidence from knowing they didn't carve you open and our shape was generally quite good.
"I think it's up to us now to be a little bit more aggressive and go after the game a little bit more. You trust the staff so much, and the manager so much, that whatever they kind of say will help us win the game, they've analysed it and you trust it and you go ahead with it.
"I just can't wait for it really. I'm getting a little bit irritated and getting ready to go. I really look forward to these kind of games. It's the games that you sign for a club like this for.
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"To be here and to be nervous or not want to play doesn't make any sense. I'll just got out there and try and play my game and the lads will do the same.
"They [Manchester City] are definitely a puzzle. I think I played here four times with Dortmund and obviously once now with Madrid, and I think each time you face a different team.
"Not necessarily the players, but they way they're set up and the areas which they want to attack and kind of hurt you.
"That's so interesting as a player, because it's almost a game within a game and trying to work out what to do to win the game. It's really interesting and I'm really looking forward to it."
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