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Former Real Madrid manager and club legend Zinedine Zidane has provided his take on midfielder Jude Bellingham dismissing comparisons with the Frenchman. The 21-year-old Englishman arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu last summer and enjoyed a fabulous debut campaign.
In 42 games across competitions, the Euro 2024 finalist bagged 23 goals and 13 assists as Los Blancos won three titles, including a second La Liga-UEFA Champions League double in three years. It includes 19 goals and six assists in 28 La Liga outings and four goals and five assists in 11 UEFA Champions League games.
When Jude Bellingham arrived at the Bernabeu, he inherited Zidane's iconic No. 5 shirt but dismissed comparisons with the Frenchman, saying that he wants to carve out his own niche at the club. Zidane supports that notion (as per The Athletic via Madrid Zone):
“Jude Bellingham compared to me? Each one is what he is. I think he is going to be a different player. Apart from the No. 5 that we both wear, technically he may be similar, but we don’t have to compare.
"Jude was asked about me, and he said, ‘No, I’m Bellingham’. He is right. Everyone makes their own history, and I think his history at Real Madrid is going to be very beautiful.”
The 21-year-old contributed two goals and an assist in seven games as the Three Lions fell 2-1 to Spain in the UEFA Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday (July 14).
How Jude Bellingham's first-season numbers at Real Madrid compare with Zinedine Zidane's
Zinedine Zidane arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2001 from Juventus, kickstarting the 'Galactico' era at the Santiago Bernabeu, and enjoyed a fabulous debut campaign, much like Jude Bellingham.
In 49 games across competitions, the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 winner bagged 12 goals and 15 assists. While Los Blancos finished third in La Liga - behind Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna - they won the UEFA Champions League.
Zidane struck a memorable winner in the 2-1 Champions League final over Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow. He finished his debut Madrid campaign with seven goals and nine assists in 31 La Liga games.
He also bagged three goals and two assists in nine outings in the Champions League and two goals and three assists in seven Copa del Rey matches.
