"He is a good successor for everything" - Zinedine Zidane hails Real Madrid superstar and suggests he's his heir
Zinedine Zidane has waxed lyrical about Jude Bellingham after the Real Madrid star joined the Adidas Predator family. The English midfielder followed Zidane's footsteps last year when he joined Los Blancos.
Bellingham, 21, was handed Zidane's famous number five shirt and made a scintillating start to his Madrid career. He bagged 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 games across competitions last season, finishing third in this year's Ballon d'Or race.
The England international has moved into a deeper role in midfield this season but is still impressing. He's displayed qualities similar to Zidane's, with creativity and vision, posting six goals and as many assists in 19 games across competitions.
Zidane congratulated Bellingham on being presented with his first Adidas signature Predator boots. The French legend said (via Madrid Xtra):
"Jude Bellingham? He is a good successor for everything. For his football, for the fans, for Real Madrid, to the shirt, to the boots and I’m pleased he’s part of the Predator boots family.”
Bellingham joins a famous list of footballing royalty to have donned Adidas Predators. Zidane, David Beckham and David Trezeguet are among Real Madrid icons who have worn the boots.
Zidane made history when first wearing Predator Accelerator in the 1998 FIFA World Cup final. He bagged a brace in a 3-0 win over Brazil, and Bellingham hopes he makes a similar history with his pair.
"I wanted to pay homage" - Jude Bellingham on choosing Zidane's Real Madrid shirt number
When Bellingham joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in July 2023, he was unable to select his preferred shirt number. He wore number 22 at Signal Iduna Park, but Antonio Rudiger had already claimed the shirt number at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Bellingham decided to choose the number five and explained his decision at the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony. He said (via GIVEMESPORT):
"It adds a little bit of pressure, but I wanted to pay homage to one of my idols."
Bellingham further explained that his father, Mark, always used to wear Zidane's famous jersey:
"My father always wore a Real Madrid shirt around the house with 'Zidane' on the back, which is funny because, in a way, it has come full circle. He gave it to me when I arrived here in the summer."
Zidane is one of, if not the greatest players in Madrid's history and won six major trophies at the Bernabeu. The Frenchman registered 49 goals and 67 assists in 227 games, winning the FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2000 and 2003.