Featured Image Credit: totalcristiano [X]
Topics: Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid, Barcelona
Alex Brotherton
Topics: Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid, Barcelona
A key moment during Real Madrid's thrashing of Barcelona has proven that Jude Bellingham is already a leader at the club.
Bellingham joined Los Blancos in a £88.5 million move from Borussia Dortmund last summer, and it's no exaggeration to say that he has been worth every single penny.
The 20-year-old looks like he has played at Real Madrid all his life, and has already racked up 17 goals and six assists in 24 appearances in all competitions.
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Aside from his goal contributions though - and that iconic celebration - what has really stood out about Bellingham is the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch.
The English midfielder has an old head on his shoulders, something that became even clearer during the final of the Spanish Super Cup on Sunday.
Carlos Ancelotti's side avenged their defeat in last year's Super Cup final by handing bitter rivals Barcelona a humiliating defeat.
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A Vinicius Junior hat-trick put Madrid firmly in control at half-time, after Robert Lewandowski had pulled one back for Xavi's men.
However, the Brazilian attacker wouldn't have had the opportunity to bag a treble were it not for the actions of Bellingham.
Footage has emerged of Bellingham giving the ball to his teammate - three years his senior - when Madrid were awarded a penalty late in the first half.
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The young midfielder would ordinarily take spot-kicks, but he gave Vinicius the chance to complete his hat-trick and the 23-year-old made no mistake.
The duo were caught in conversation before the kick, and it appears that Bellingham said to Vinicius: "Next time, it's for me."
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After slotting the penalty past Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena, Vinicius wheeled away in celebration before turning around and pointing at Bellingham in appreciation.
The Brazilian has endured a tough couple of years on and off the pitch, after he found himself at the centre of a racism scandal in Spanish football. This season though he is looking like his usual self, and the partnership he has formed with Bellingham is partly to thank.
Bellingham is an incredibly talented footballer for his age, but perhaps even more impressive is his attitude and ability to raise the performances of his teammates.