Jude Bellingham has revealed he wanted to pay “homage” to Zinedine Zidane after choosing to wear the No5 shirt at Real Madrid.
The 19-year-old was officially presented as a Real player on Thursday, after signing from Borussia Dortmund for a fee that could rise to £115million as he put pen to paper on a six-year deal.
Bellingham spoke of his excitement at joining “the greatest football club in the history of the game”, insisting money was never a factor for him as he considered his options before opting to make the move to Spain.
The teenager has previously worn the No22 shirt, one he adopted as a youth player due to being able to play the number four, eight and ten roles in midfield, but Bellingham has opted for a change at Real.
He will have the number five on his back, a shirt made iconic by Zidane during his time in Spain, after Bellingham had a conversation with Jesus Vallejo, who was previously in possession of it.
“For a start, I’d like to thank Jesus Vallejo for letting me wear the No5,” Bellingham said at his presentation.
“I had some contact with him, just to see if it was ok with him, and he was a brilliant guy in letting me wear it and just being so nice about. I’m very grateful to him.
“I’ve said how much I admire Zinedine Zidane, the legacy he has in the club. With this number, I’m not trying to be the same as him, I’m just trying to be Jude. But it’s definitely a bit of homage to how great he was.
“As far as the 22 is concerned, it’s the number I’ve worn, it’s the number that has a lot of meaning to me and in my heart I’m still a 22. But just wearing five on the back and we’ll see how what happens in the future.
“Right now, I’m really happy to be given this honour of wearing that number.”
Real have been linked with a number of other huge signings this summer, particularly after Karim Benzema’s move to Saudi Arabia left a void to be filled up front.
Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe have both been raised as possible targets, and Bellingham was asked about the possibility of his England captain joining him in Madrid.
“As far as the Harry Kane rumours, I can’t comment on that,” he said.
“He’s a world class player, he’s my captain for the national team. I love him as a player and as a person. Whatever happens there happens but it is not really for me to comment about.”
