Jude Bellingham: Rio Ferdinand on how England star has wowed Real Madrid greats - 'They can't believe it'

Rio Ferdinand has revealed how Real Madrid great Fabio Cannavaro has been wowed by Jude Bellingham’s impact at the club.

Bellingham joined Real from Borussia Dortmund last summer and has enjoyed a superb debut season.

He is the second-highest scorer in La Liga with 16 goals, along with four assists, while in the UEFA Champions League he has chipped in four goals and four assists in seven games.

TNT Sports expert Ferdinand spoke about Bellingham when he caught up with former Real Madrid players Cannavaro and Clarence Seedorf ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg between Manchester City and Real.

“I asked straight away how is Jude received over there, what are they thinking about him, his impact. The expression on Fabio Cannavaro’s face was like, ‘never seen anything like it’,” said Ferdinand.

“He was saying you don’t realise how big the club is and the pressure there is at the club. It can hoover you up straight away and spit you out and he has gone there and embraced it, but not only embraced it, but taken a lot of the players and the responsibility all on his shoulders and is producing every single week.

“They can’t believe it, it’s an Englishman abroad flying, and I am here for it.”

Bellingham revealed ahead of facing City that there was interest from other clubs before he joined Real Madrid last summer.

However, he told TNT Sports that the move to the Bernabeu was a “no-brainer”.

"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!

"It's brilliant. 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."

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