Jude Bellingham has said he would like to play alongside Kylian Mbappe after signing for Real Madrid.
The 19-year-old became the most expensive Brit in history on Wednesday, as Los Blacnos confirmed his £113 million move from Borussia Dortmund.
It may not be the last big business Real conduct this summer, after Mbappe dropped the bombshell news this week that he has no intention of signing fresh terms beyond 2024 with the French champions.
The development has put Carlo Ancelotti’s side, Chelsea, Manchester United and other top European teams on red alert, with PSG now backed into a corner and feeling ‘betrayed’ by their star player.
Real are thought to be hesitant about bidding for the 24-year-old having already spent big this summer, but they are in need of a striker this summer after losing Karim Benzema and may be able to get a good deal out of the French club, who will not want Mbappe to leave for free next summer.
Jude Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund for £113 million on Wednesday
The midfielder admitted he would like to play with PSG star Kylian Mbappe, who has told the club he does not want to sign a contract extension
When asked about the French striker’s links with the club, Bellingham said: ‘I can’t really comment, I don’t know his situation. If anything, my whole saga has taught me that not everything you see is true.
‘He’s a great player, whatever he chooses to do, all the best to him. Would I like to play with a player like Kylian Mbappe? Who wouldn’t?’
The midfielder also refused to comment on Harry Kane’s chance, but did say he he loves his England captain ‘as a player and as a person.’
On his reasons for choosing Real over Premier League suitors Chelsea and Man City, Bellingham added: ‘I’d always been aware of the interest from England, so that was pretty normal. But it was a bit of a surprise when my dad sat me down and said, “You’ve had interest from Real Madrid,” 12 or 15 months ago.
‘It was goosebumps, my heart was close to stopping. It’s something you don’t expect growing up.’
‘I think the respect Real Madrid has in England and the pedigree they have in Europe is huge. Madrid’s history appeals to me and I want to add to their history.’
He also revealed that seeing Los Blancos beat Liverpool in the Champions League final was a ‘huge factor in his decision.’
Bellingham spoke of how Real’s ‘history’ attracted him to the Spanish giants
The England star is set to wear the No 5 shirt having wrapped up his £113m summer move – following in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane
The England international will wear the number five at Real, a decision he admitted was made in ‘homage’ to club icon Zinedine Zidane.
He spoke of ‘admiring’ the 50-year-old, who won four Champions Leagues at the Bernabeu as a player and manager, bus insisted he did not want to be ‘the same as him.’
Bellingham joins an exciting cohort of young midfielders at Real, where he will team up with the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni (23) and Eduardo Camavinga (20).
With Luka Modric and Toni Kroos approaching the end of their careers, fans will be hoping Bellingham and co can be the basis of a new dynasty at the Bernabeu.
