Bellingham's Madrid impact clear as England star told he's outshining legends
Aitor Karanka won three Champions League titles and played with the likes of Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo.
But even during his glittering career with Real Madrid, Karanka says not even Zidane adapted as quickly as it has taken Jude Bellingham to become the darling of the Bernabeu.
Former Real Madrid defender Karanka, who has gone on to become a hugely respected manager, believes Bellingham has the world at his feet and can inspire the club to more glory this season. Karanka said: “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 ten 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.”
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Jude Bellingham has been a revelation at Real Madrid (ASSOCIATED PRESS)Former Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest boss Karanka was also in charge at Birmingham but just missed out on managing Bellingham during his time at St Andrews. But Karanka, whose own family home is in Madrid, could see from close quarters that not only was Bellingham going to be special but he also had the right guidance in his career.
“More than his quality and skills, the most important thing is his personality,” said Karanka. “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.
Aitor Karanka managed Bellingham's former club Birmingham (Getty Images)“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.”
Karanka believes that Carlo Ancelotti is also the perfect manager for Bellingham and no-one should write off Real Madrid’s chances of being European champions again this season. He said: “One of the good things that Carlo has, is the freedom he gives to the players and in that shape, in that style, Jude is feeling free. He’s strong, powerful, good with the ball and when you play with better players it makes you an even better player.
“You never know why, but they are always competing. I’ve seen games in the Bernabeau, there were lower teams in the table and maybe the game is 0-0. Getafe were drawing and yet Jude scored in the 95th minute. They never give up and when you play Madrid, you have to be awake for 97 minutes.”
Karanka had five years at Real Madrid and was part of an all-conquering squad littered with Galacticos. He now does analysis work for La Liga, is an observer for UEFA in Champions League and recently did the punditry for ITV for the Madrid derby.
There is no hiding his desire to get back into management and he admits the Premier League is now some distance ahead of La Liga and the Champions League has evolved since the last of the three trophies he won in 2002.
Karanka added: “My son is 21, I remember two or three years ago, I took him to a Champions League game because we had won it against Valencia 20 years ago. I said: ‘Let’s go.’
“But it couldn’t have been more than 15 or 20 minutes watching the game, he was suddenly saying: ‘it’s so boring, it’s so slow.’ That was a Champions League game 20 years later! I think the Premier League is one or two steps forward and two seasons ago, Newcastle were fighting relation, Atletico Madrid were playing in the Champions League, but Newcastle still signed Kieran Trippier.
“It shows a team fighting relegation can still take a player from the Champions League. La Liga is working and it’s trying hard but I think the Premier League is still ahead.”
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