Jude Bellingham can become one of Real Madrid’s greatest ever players, says former Los Blancos boss Rafa Benitez.
The England midfielder has been a hit in the Spanish capital since his move from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 and is leading their efforts to defend their Champions League crown this season after lifting the trophy in his first campaign at the Bernabeu.
Bellingham scored the winner in Real’s dramatic 3-2 win over Manchester City last week and is set to be key to his side progressing through their knockout play-off tie in Wednesday’s second leg.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Spaniard Benitez believes the 21-year-old has all tools to become the latest in a long list of greats at the illustrious LaLiga club.
The former Real boss said: “He has the potential, yes. It is possible to do it, it’s a question of time. I said before, modern football has changed a lot. In the past, the players, they have people around, but they were more focused, and you didn’t have the social media, so you had less distractions.
“Now they have so many people around, so much money, so easy to get whatever you want, and the social media has so much influence that it is difficult to be consistent for five, 10 years.
“So, we are talking about to be better than [Alfredo] Di Stefano, to be better than Raul, to be better than [Emilio] Butragueno. You have to be really consistent to be better than them. He has the potential, yes.
“Can he do it for a few years? It depends on how mature he is and then the people around him.”
5️⃣ @BellinghamJude
9️⃣ @KMbappe pic.twitter.com/WYOBDD3z1M— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 18, 2025
‘Real will get the job done’
Real Madrid scored two goals in the final five minutes at the Etihad last Tuesday, allowing them to return home with a crucial advantage and Benitez believes his former side will get the job done.
He added: “In theory, Real Madrid has to attack, but I don’t think Carlo Ancelotti will be worried about that. There will be that expectation now that Real will get the job finished at the Bernabeu.
“Manchester City don’t have the same confidence that they had in the past. But don’t forget that it’s Champions League, and Pep Guardiola has experience in that, and the players that he has, they have massive experience also at the European level.
“So, I think everything can happen. When they have so much quality in the team, in the squad, anything can happen.”
