Xabi Alonso 'loves' Jude Bellingham as Real Madrid boss waxes lyrical about 'ambitious' Englishman

Madrid boss Alonso praised Bellingham’s hunger and quality ahead of the club’s final Club World Cup group stage game against Red Bull Salzburg. With qualification for the next round in sight, the coach emphasised the need to win and highlighted Bellingham’s importance in midfield.

Bellingham has been an integral player for Madrid since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2023. He played a key role in Madrid's first victory of the Club World Cup, scoring in a 3-1 win against Pachuca, but the Spanish giants face a spell without the 21-year-old after he confirmed he will have surgery on a persistent shoulder problem. Alonso hopes to get the best out of him before then, though, and is counting on him to lead the charge against the Austrian side.

Alonso reserved special praise for Bellingham, highlighting his influence and mentality. He said: "He'll be key. I love what he does in midfield, how he's involved in every play, and he has a lot of quality. We saw that against Pachuca. We try to stay close to him; he's very ambitious, a player who always wants to improve, to keep growing. We're eager to continue watching him grow and improve."

Los Blancos face Salzburg in their final group game in Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. A win guarantees top spot for the Spanish giants.