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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>England completed big-money transfer</li><li>Made a stunning impact in Spain</li><li>Compared with icons from the past</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Jude Bellingham told how he is above Real Madrid legends Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo by former Blancos defender that won Champions League alongside all-time greats

LaLiga

Villarreal

Real Madrid

The England international midfielder completed a €103 million (£90m/$112m) transfer to Santiago Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund during the summer window. Big things were expected of him in Spain, but the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/jude-bellingham-tipped-real-madrid-legend-beat-erling-haaland-kylian-mbappe-lionel-messi-cristiano-ronaldo-throne/bltb6b7a9b71c6e3c49" target="_blank">20-year-old has exceeded all expectations</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Blancos defender Karanka – who won three Champions League crowns during his time with Real – has told <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jude-bellingham-real-madrid-karanka-31467690 " target="_blank">The Mirror</a> of Bellingham after seeing him<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/jude-bellingham-10-year-goal-england-matching-cristiano-ronaldo-real-madrid/blt228c93574a0ffbed" target="_blank"> hit 13 goals through 14 appearances</a>: “I did not have any surprise or any doubt, but maybe one surprise is just how quickly he’s done this. I played with Figo and Zidane and, even for them, it took time. I remember when Zizou arrived here, the first month or two months, he was not as good as he was at Juventus or later on. It’s Real Madrid. "But with Jude’s personality and character, it looks like he’s been playing here for 10 years in Madrid. No other club is like it. When I played here, there were top players but all of them were older but now at 20 years, the only one I think of is Raul who started at 18 or 19 but when you are as young as Jude, it’s hard to find anyone who has been as successful as him.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Bellingham has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/bellingham-explains-man-utd-transfer-snub-as-record-breaking-17-year-old-thrives-at-dortmund/1vjb504844si01n86s0ioy3da0" target="_blank">had the pick of Europe’s top clubs</a> over the course of his relatively short career, but Karanka feels Real are the perfect fit for the newly-crowned winner of the prestigious Golden Boy award. The ex-Birmingham boss added on a player that honed his craft at St Andrew’s: “More than his quality and skills, the most important thing is his personality. How mature he is, his brain and the family. The family have clear ideas, Jude has his own ideas and I think it’s important for his direction. When he left Birmingham, he could have gone to other teams in the Premier League but when he joined Borussia Dortmund, it was because he thought it was the best step for him and now I think Real Madrid has been the same. "For sure, he had offers to go to Liverpool, Manchester City but he decided to go to Madrid as soon as he arrived here and he’s made the difference. His family is so strong. His brother Jobe plays in Sunderland, his father is with him in Sunderland and his mother is with him here and I think it’s vital because, as a player, 25 years later to play for Real Madrid means you are more than just a normal player.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Bellingham, who is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/will-jude-bellingham-fit-champions-league-real-madrid-fitness-update-shoulder-injury-scare/bltddaf87fcc45dbc89" target="_blank">nursing a shoulder injury at present</a>, has signed a contract in Madrid through to 2029 and is expected to come in to contention for Ballon d’Or recognition at some stage in the future.

WHAT NEXT?

Jude Bellingham told how he is above Real Madrid legends Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo by former Blancos defender that won Champions League alongside all-time greats | Goal.com UK

Jude Bellingham has topped the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo with his start at Real Madrid, claims ex-Blancos star Aitor Karanka.

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