"Quickly elevated himself into one of the world’s great players" - Michael Owen heaps praise on 'incredible' Real Madrid superstar
Former Real Madrid striker Michael Owen has waxed lyrical of compatriot Jude Bellingham for his impressive performances for Los Blancos. The 21-year-old arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu last summer from Borussia Dortmund.
Enjoying a sparkling debut campaign, the Euro 2024 finalist registered 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 games across competitions. That included 19 goals and six assists in 28 outings in La Liga - which Los Blancos won for a record-extending 36th time.
Bellingham also contributed four goals and five assists in 11 outings in the UEFA Champions League, which Carlo Ancelotti's side won for a record-extending 15th time.
Although the Englishman has had just one assist in two games across competitions this season, Owen lavished praise on him, telling Four Four Two (via GOAL):
"Jude quickly elevated himself into one of the world’s great players, for club and country. Playing for a club like Real Madrid isn’t easy when all eyes are on you and every poor performance is pounced upon; if you can respond to that and stay at the highest level, then you belong with the best in the world.
"He’s incredible. At Real, he has developed that big-game energy, that swagger, that attitude. We saw it for England at Euro 2024 as well."
Bellingham is currently out injured and has missed his side's last four La Liga outings, with Los Blancos going unbeaten, winning thrice.
How Real Madrid have fared without Jude Bellingham this season?
Jude Bellingham opened his new campaign by setting up new signing Kylian Mbappe with Real Madrid's second goal in the 2-0 UEFA Super Cup win in Warsaw last month.
However, the Englishman drew blanks in Los Blancos' La Liga opener - a 1-1 draw at Mallorca. Since then - as mentioned above - he has missed four straight league games due to a muscle injury.
In their second league outing of the season, Carlo Ancelotti's side beat Real Valladolid 3-0 at home, thanks to goals from Fede Valverde, Brahim Diaz and club debutant Endrick.
Los Blancos, though, stumbled to a 1-1 draw at Las Palmas, with Alberto Moleiro's first-half opener for the hosts getting cancelled out by Vinicius Junior 21 minutes from time.
In their next La Liga outing, Madrid beat Real Betis 2-0 at home, with Mbappe opening his account in the Spanish top flight with both goals. Ancelotti's side then won 2-0 at Real Sociedad, with Vinicius and Mbappe scoring from the spot.