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Jude Bellingham takes iconic Real Madrid shirt number as he’s introduced at the Bernabeu.
Before being introduced as the newest superstar for the Spanish giants, Jude Bellingham took Zinedine Zidane’s famous former Real Madrid jersey number.
Bellingham, a 19-year-old international for England, has signed a six-year contract in Madrid and joins there following three seasons with Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
Numerous Premier League clubs were interested in the teenager, but he ultimately decided to move to Spain after placing second in the Bundesliga in what turned out to be his final season in Germany.
The French superstar Zidane, who famously scored in the No. 5 shirt when Real won the Champions League in 2002 and later led the team to three straight European titles between 2016 and 2018, has given it to Bellingham ahead of his Thursday debut.
The No.22 shirt he wore for Dortmund and his first club Birmingham City is now worn by Antonio Rudiger, while Jesus Vallejo was Real Madrid’s No.5 last season.
With Bellingham taking the number five, Jesús Vallejo will now wear the number 24 shirt.
“Easy, man. Zidane first,” Bellingham said when asked for his top three inspirations in football on a Borussia Dortmund podcast last year.
Before going on to say that seeing the man himself for the first time, before last season’s Champions League final, was “the first time I felt being in awe of someone.”
🤩👕 Ya es oficial… ¡nuestro nuevo 5️⃣ ya tiene nombre!
🤍 @BELLINGHAMJUDE#HeyJude | @adidasfootball pic.twitter.com/FwWKXiHoGL— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 15, 2023