Football League World
·13 September 2024
Football League World
·13 September 2024
Jude Bellingham has revealed that Carlo Ancelotti joked Real Madrid should've signed his brother Jobe.
Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has revealed Carlo Ancelotti joked that they should’ve signed his younger brother Jobe after an impressive performance for Sunderland last season.
The two brothers came through the ranks at Birmingham City, with Jude establishing himself as one of the best players on the planet since leaving for Borussia Dortmund and then the European champions.
Meanwhile, Jobe is making his own name in the game, having enjoyed a positive first season with Sunderland in the Championship after making the switch from Blues.
Of course, with the siblings both professional footballers, it restricts when they can meet up, but they still look out for one another when they can, which was highlighted in a YouTube documentary on Jude called ‘Out of the Floodlights’.
That’s because footage shows Jude watching his younger brother when Sunderland played Rotherham at the start of the previous campaign.
It was a great game for Jobe, as he scored twice in a 2-1 win, with Jude explaining how he had to check on his phone for the second goal after his stream went down, but he celebrated in the Real Madrid dressing room knowing his brother had scored again.
This prompted a response from Ancelotti, as Jude says he joked that the Spanish giants had ‘bought the wrong one’, and he then said that Jobe could take the place of his brother in the Real Madrid XI.
It’s difficult for Jobe, as many will lazily compare whatever he achieves in the game to Jude, which isn’t fair.
Sometimes you can forget that he is only 18, and for someone of that age to play a full season in the Championship like he did last time out, and to score seven goals, is rather unusual, and it shows we are talking about a real top talent.
Clubs in the game understand that, as he was heavily linked with Crystal Palace in the summer, and there has been talk that Real Madrid and Chelsea are among those interested in the teenager.
But, the fact he opted to stay at Sunderland this summer means he recognises that they are a great club for his development, and the only focus for all connected to the Black Cats is winning promotion this season after their fantastic start under new boss Regis Le Bris.
That’s not to say a bigger move won’t materialise further down the line, but there’s no rush at all for Bellingham, and it should be said that he is at a great club right now.
This is another example of Sunderland’s transfer strategy working, with the club having made themselves one of the most attractive options for young players in the country.
But, as outlined above, the next step is about reaching the Premier League, and that will be required to keep their better players and to help the club grow.