Former England boss Fabio Capello reckons Jude Bellingham is out of this world.
Capello, 77, has compared the Real Madrid midfielder to German World Cup legend Lothar Matthaus ahead of the Champions League final at Wembley - but believes Bellingham is even better in front of goal. The England star has scored 22 goals in his first season at the Bernabeu - and will become a European champion if hot favourites Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund on Saturday after already claiming a La Liga title medal.
Now Capello, who had two spells in charge of the Spanish giants during his glittering coaching career, has paid the 20-year-old a glowing tribute.
“Bellingham has surprised me because, normally, the English have difficulty making an impact in the Spanish or Italian leagues when they’re away from home,” said Capello in his role as an ambassador for Laureus Sport for Good.
“Probably because he was coming straight from Germany, Bellingham already understood a bit of the European mentality, although the German mentality is different.
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“But he really impressed me with his will to win and how much he is loved by Madrid fans. He is really from a different world. Because he has quality, but he also has competitive strength."
Capello saw Bellingham score twice - including a last-minute winner - when Madrid beat bitter rivals Barcelona in April. He added: "In the Clasico, he lifted Madrid. There were two or three times when he won the ball by sliding and the whole stadium rose to applaud him.
"This means true devotion to the team and being a leader. One can tell a leader by how they behave on the field.”
Matthaus won the Ballon d’Or after leading West Germany’s to the World Cup with a string of inspirational performances in 1990. He was beaten in two Champions League Finals playing for Bayern Munich but helped Inter Milan lift serie A and the UEFA Cup.
Bellingham has already lifted the LaLiga title this season (Getty Images)Capello has advised England boss Gareth Southgate to give Bellingham the same attacking role in which Matthaus excelled. He said: “Bellingham's position is hybrid. And that’s why it is difficult to compare him with other players.
“I think of Lothar Matthaus, a long time ago. Matthaus was more or less like that. When he’d get close to the penalty area he was good, but he was not as good within the penalty area.
“And Bellingham – that’s the difference he makes, he is good both in midfield, as he immediately gets where the match is headed to, and also inside the penalty area.
“I think that’s the position he needs to play in. As a second forward. He can inflict a lot of damage in that position because he has this ability to just penetrate the defence.
"He to find the right spots - and he's someone who also helps the team out. In my opinion, he can really inflict a lot of damage in that position. As a manager, that’s how I would use him.”
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