Real Madrid’s latest Galactico Jude Bellingham made his long-awaited debut as Los Blancos secured a 3-2 victory over AC Milan in a friendly.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side kicked off their pre-season tour in the USA in the best possible way, coming back from 2-0 down to secure a win, and Bellingham shone instantly.
The England international is quickly becoming a popular figure at the club amongst fans and teammates, and staff at the club are reportedly gobsmacked about both his ability and his attitude.
Bellingham followed up his excellent debut with an Instagram post highlighting his excitement about finally representing Real Madrid on the pitch, and his teammates were quick to react.
“Loved my first minutes as a Madridista! Let’s keep building. Thank you for the love,” Bellingham posted.
Fellow young superstar Vinicius Junior was quick to comment “Crack,” meaning ‘the best’ in Spanish, whilst experienced goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois described Bellingham as a “beast.”
How did Bellingham play against AC Milan?
The 20-year-old started the game as the most advanced midfielder in a new diamond formation being tested by Ancelotti, which saw him line up behind Brahim Diaz and Joselu in attack.
The midfielder saw plenty of action, completing 40 of his 46 passes, as well as making two key passes and completing three of his four attempted long balls.
His excellent physical and technical attributes were on display as he also won four of his five attempted dribbles, helping Real push forward for Fede Valverde to score twice to level the game.
Bellingham’s debut was a nice teaser for Real Madrid fans, who were treated to his talents for the first time, whilst also gaining an insight into what is to come from him in the coming seasons.
All indications so far point towards Bellingham quickly becoming one of Real Madrid’s main stars and one of the first names on the team sheet, and his popularity amongst his teammates could even make him one of the key leaders in the squad despite his young age.