Vinicius Jr. claimed he used to text Jude Bellingham to help in join Real Madrid.
After a great start to the season, Real Madrid player Vinicius Jr has claimed he played a vital hand in Jude Bellingham joining the club.
Bellingham has scored eight goals in nine games for Los Blancos, and he added to his tally with a goal in their 3-2 Champions League triumph over Napoli on Tuesday night.
The England midfielder has been a major hit since his £113 million move from Borussia Dortmund, and his teammates appear to be overjoyed to have him on their side after a number of prominent sides across the world, including Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United, had pursued his signature.
Vinicius disclosed in text exchanges that he had been urging the player to join the Spanish giants.
“I wanted Jude at Real Madrid!” Vinicus claimed, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.
“I sent many messages to Bellingham last year. I was texting [him] almost every day and I was telling him: “Come to Madrid”.’
After the game, Bellingham returned the praise to Vinicius, praising their collaboration, and said he was one of the best players in the world.
“He’s probably the best in the world for me,” Bellingham said. “He’s one of the most talented players I’ve ever played with.”
Bellingham was likened to club legend Zinedine Zidane and even Diego Maradona after another flashy performance, but the midfielder was quick to discount the lofty praise.
“That’s a bit too much!” he said. “It was a nice goal. From what I’ve seen on YouTube and documentaries, his quality was a bit more than mine, or a lot more. I’m just trying to contribute in a Jude way.”
Manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Bellingham’s maturity, saying he performed like a 30-year-old while being only 20.
“What’s surprising is he’s only 20,” the Italian said. “It seems like he’s 30 with his character, his personality. He’s always focused, he knows what he has to do. That’s strange for a player who’s just 20. And then the quality he has, the physical strength.
“Obviously it’s a bit surprising, it’s surprising everyone.”
He also commented on Vinicius and Bellingham’s collaboration: “We ask Vinicius to find the position where he feels best, on the outside or the inside, and Bellingham adapts,’ Ancelotti said. ‘I think they combined well, they have a lot of creativity. When we have them both together on the left, we’re dangerous.”
