Rafa Benitez, former Los Blancos president, says that Jude Pellingham can become one of the greatest Real Madrid players.
The England midfielder has been successful in the Spanish capital since he moved from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 and leads their efforts to defend the Champions League crown this season after raising the cup in his first campaign in Bernabeu.
Bellingham, the winner of Real Real, scored the 3-2 dramatic work over Manchester City last week, and the key to his team is scheduled to advance through the tie by the match in the second Wednesday’s strike.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Spaniard Benitez believes that 21 -year -old has all the tools to become the latest in a long list of great people at Laliga shiny club.
The former real president said: “He has the capabilities, yes. It can be done, it is a time issue. I said before, modern football has changed a lot. In the past, the players have people around them, but they were more focused, and they have no means Social communication, so you have less deviations.
“They now have a lot of people around them, a lot of money, and easy to get what you want, and social media has a great impact so that it is difficult to be consistent for five or 10 years.
“Therefore, we are talking about being better than [Alfredo] De Stefano, to be better than Raul, to be better than [Emilio] Butragueno. You should be really consistent to be better than them. He has the capabilities, yes.
“Can he do this for a few years? This depends on his maturity and then the people around him.”
5⃣ Bellinghamjud
9⃣ Kmbappe pic.twitter.com/wyobdd3z1MReal Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (Realmadriden) February 18, 2025
“The real will accomplish the task”
Real Madrid scored two goals in the last five minutes in the federation last Tuesday, which allowed them to return to their homes with a decisive feature and Benitez believes that his previous side will accomplish the mission.
“In theory, Real Madrid must attack, but I don’t think Carlo Ancelotti will be concerned about it. There will be this expectation now after the mission has been completed in Bernabeu.
“Manchester City did not have the same confidence in the past. But do not forget that he is the Champions League, and that Pep Guardiola has experience in it, and the players who have, have enormous experience also at the European level.
“So, I think everything can happen. When they have great quality in the team, in the team, anything can happen.”