Bellingham: “This club is the highest you can aspire to in football"

Jude Bellingham was interviewed by UEFA's official media department and he discussed his move to Real Madrid and his successful first season with the club: “This club is the highest you can aspire to in football. It's always been the level I have been aiming for and I could get to, but I didn't think I would get here so quickly. Now I'm here, I'm grateful every day to be able to represent this club. It's a huge part of my life now, it's basically my life. It's always been the goal for me."

His shirt number
“My dad always wore a Real Madrid shirt at home with Zidane's number 5 on it. It's funny because the story has flipped and he gave it to me as a present when I signed in the summer. I used to ask him who the player on the shirt was and he told me that when I grew up we'd see it on Youtube. Now that I'm wearing the number 5, it's a great story.”

Signing for Real Madrid
“I have to thank the club for their interest. There are many talented players and I had the honour of being considered to have the right characteristics and personality to fit in. When they called me and explained the plan and the project for the next few years, I was convinced. I didn't have to think about it.”

Support from his family
“Everyone knows how important my family's role is in my career. We all agreed on this big decision to come to Real Madrid. We always thought it was the best decision. With that support you have more confidence to make these big decisions.”

His contribution to the team
“I enjoy being a Real Madrid player, through the good times and the bad times, when you have to pick yourself up and try again. Everything to do with playing at the highest level at such a big club is incredible for me. You have to enjoy the feeling of being in the trenches and know that it's not a good time but take responsibility and help the team out of those bad moments. I've managed to do that this season and the team has managed to do it with other players stepping up and that's why we've done so well. Those games when it looked like they were going to be draws or defeats and someone has managed to turn things around. It's a great feeling.”

The club’s values
“Here you learn to appreciate the legends of the past. The values and identity of the club are built on those legends who wore this crest before us so well. It's important to carry on the legacy and values that they put in place and that's what I'm trying to do.”

On his position
“I think that's the role that suits me best in this team. I think when I have the freedom to go up, go back, cross the last line and have the ball to play and create, I feel very good and I feel that I can get involved in all the action of the game and try to do my defensive job as well. All credit to the coach for giving me that licence. It's not easy to look at someone who has played in a deeper position for so long at Dortmund and find something that makes you think I'd do well playing a bit higher up. Honestly, all credit to him.”

Objectives
“I only think about the collective goals. Anything else is just people talking. I always think about the teammates I work with every day, who are there during the bad times and who you enjoy the good times with. I always think how great it'd be to lift all those trophies together and be rewarded for the work that everyone has put in during the season. That's the ultimate goal in football. If we talk about a year from now, I'd like to have a Champions League title and be in another semi-final.”