Jude Bellingham hires former FA employee to help manage his life at Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham has coaxed a former Football Association employee away from his role with the organisation to help him with life as a Real Madrid star.

To be a 19-year-old considered good enough for Real to spend big money to sign you, you have to be a hell of a talent and that's exactly what Bellingham is.

The England international is now the club's second most expensive player, only behind Eden Hazard, and could eventually overtake the Belgian.

Certainly the former Borussia Dortmund star will be hoping that his time at the Bernabeu is better than the Beligan's, who was recently accused of letting his career die in the Spanish capital.

The teenager has already impressed since moving to Los Blancos as he spoke about money not being a driving factor to his move.

Certainly it is turning into a dream move with the midfielder handed the same squad number that his idol Zinedine Zidane wore for Los Blancos, the number five.

It seems that Bellingham and his family are understandably determined to make sure that he is a success both on and off the pitch for Real.

According to the Sun, they have hired former FA Player Relations Lead Lewis Maddison to look after 'Brand Bellingham' and help with the player's social media channels, marketing opportunities and just helping settle in the Spanish capital.

Bellingham looked assured during his first press conference as a Real player. Image: Alamy

The 31-year-old previously worked for Nike and was appointed as their company’s Football Sports Marketing Manager back in 2011.

He helped manage relationships between the kit manufacturer and the players on their portfolio that they represented across the Premier League.

In 2018 Bellingham's new employee moved to the FA to become senior commercial manager and worked for the national team at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.

He had become part of the national team camps in his new role as Player Relations Lead and worked closely with the players at the World Cup in December.

Maddison's last game with the squad was Monday night's battering of North Macedonia, a game Bellingham missed through injury.

He will no doubt be back in action for Gareth Southgate's side as soon as he's fit and now has to compete with Trent Alexander-Arnold for a place in the midfield.

Topics: England, Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

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