Former Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli has said that spending €100 million on Jude Bellingham was absolutely worth it for Real Madrid, adding that the midfielder is a ‘lethal footballer’.
Bellingham has made quite an impact this season while impressing one and all with his scintillating performances, having racked up 20 goals and six assists across all competitions.
Surprisingly enough, despite playing less than 30 games for his new team in his debut season, the England midfielder has already surpassed his best-ever scoring tally.
Plenty of current and former footballers have talked about his impact on the Real Madrid squad in the past and Barzagli has just joined the wagon.
Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t AS), the former defender said:
“Jude Bellingham’s impact on a team like Real Madrid is amazing. The Englishman is a modern and lethal player. He has a great physique, he is cold in the face of the goal and is a great technician. I would say that he is worth the €100 million.”
Real Madrid are favourites to win the Champions League
Real Madrid are favourites to win the UEFA Champions League this season. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)
Bargazli, who formed a legendary partnership with Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini during his Juventus days, also said that in his opinion, the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid are the favourites to win the UEFA Champions League.
“They are among the favourites, the two main ones. At least on paper. One, Real Madrid, even if it is only because of its record, because of the weight of its history and they know how to win.
“The other, Manchester City, who won it last year. It is never easy to win the Champions League twice in a row, coincidentally only Real Madrid have achieved it in recent years.
“The games accumulate, you have to feel good between the first leg and the second leg, and sometimes the Champions League can be hard, the strongest, those with the best players, do not always advance. And then every year there is a revelation team, an underdog that advances,” explained the former Italy international.
Interestingly enough, Real Madrid happen to be the only team in the UEFA Champions League history to have won the continental championship two years in a row.
This season, while they are considered as favourites, a long list of injuries might elude them from winning the crown at some point.