Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is the best player in the world, his coach Carlo Ancelotti said Friday.
The 20-year-old England international has taken La Liga by storm since he arrived from Borussia Dortmund this summer for 103 million euros ($112 million).
Bellingham is the division’s top goalscorer with 13 strikes and has 17 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions.
“He’s doing very well, he’s done very well in the first part of the season, taking into account he is adapting to our club and to a new culture, a new language,” Ancelotti told a news conference when asked if Bellingham was the best player in the world.
“For us obviously he is the best.”
Bellingham could make his Copa del Rey debut on Saturday when reigning champions Madrid visit fourth-tier Arandina.
Ancelotti said Turkish midfielder Arda Guler could start for the first time since his arrival, while Eduardo Camavinga is back in the squad after injury.
The Italian coach confirmed Toni Kroos has a minor ankle problem and would not travel, along with Vinicius Junior, who made his comeback from injury in midweek, and Aurelien Tchouameni.
PUNCH Sports Extra identified Bellingham alongside several others as one of the young talents in the sporting world to look out for again in 2024.
PUNCH Online on Wednesday, reported that Bellingham alongside notable stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi was shortlisted for the 2023 Federation of International Football Association’s FIFPro team.
This will be unveiled at The Best FIFA Football Awards in London, England, on Monday, January 15.
The FIFA FIFPro is the only global football award decided exclusively by professional footballers with over 28,000 professional footballers who have cast their votes.
Earlier in October 2023, PUNCH Online reported that Bellingham was crowned as the winner of the 2023 Kopa Trophy award.
The 20-year-old right footer beat off competition from Bayern Munich forward and former England youth team-mate Jamal Musiala to win the honour.
AFP
