Jude Bellingham provided some intriguing insight into Birmingham City’s decision to retire the number 22 shirt after his departs in 2020.
The Stourbridge-born midfielder, who turned 16 in August 2019, made his senior debut for boyhood team Birmingham, appeared in just 44 games for the Blues.
Thus, many mocked the decision when they declared that they would retire Bellingham’s number 22 shirt after Bellingham moved to Borussia Dortmund for £22.75 million.
Bellingham’s early career in Spain at La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid showcased his extraordinary potential, and he has since gone on to become one of the best midfielders in the world.
However, what was his true opinion of Birmingham’s choice to retire the number 22? In any case, England international has made his feelings clear in a recent interview with French publication L’Equipe.
Bellingham stated: “They told me ‘no one will take it until you get back to Birmingham'” following his victory on Monday night in the Kopa Trophy. I looked astonished and said, “Really?” While I had a wonderful year (2019/2020), it wasn’t particularly noteworthy.
“I had a look around. “But hold on, can we really do that?” However, I comprehend the stance and the choice. “My move helped the club out of a sticky situation.”
It’s noteworthy to note that Bellingham acknowledged he didn’t always enjoy football as a child.
“At the beginning I didn’t like football at all,” he stated. In all honesty, it’s absurd to claim that I would go insane today if this were taken away from me.
“As a child,I used to go to training sessions and pick the flowers and grass. I would also build necklaces out of daisies and present them to my mother, who would be observing me from outside the field.
It actually was that way, and the nicest thing about the entire story is that it’s probably the reason I eventually started playing football.
“My dad would take me to practise and tell me if you want to play tag, play catch or go pick flowers.”
He continued, “As long as I behaved well and helped others, my parents never pressured me to do anything in that way. They continue to remind me of the playground, which was, I suppose, my entire world.”
Bellingham also revealed how much he admired Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, as well as former Birmingham teammates Lee Bowyer and Craig Gardner.
“The Birmingham team, who defeated Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley in 2011 to win the League Cup, had players I admired.” Lee Bowyer, Craig Gardner, and Seb Larsson were my heroes,” he continued.
“Dad was the most significant person as I became more involved. Afterwards, just because they were English players, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard served as my first role models.
“And then you start watching football as an adult. My dad had purchased a phoney Zidane shirt from the beach. He carried it with him everywhere, even home. ‘By the way, who is that guy?’ I asked him once. “Check it out on YouTube,” he continued.
“I probably haven’t stopped since then,I wanted to be a player like Zidane.
was lucky enough to meet him during the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool (1-0, in 2022). I was like a child, with wide eyes.
He is so humble for someone who has accomplished so much”He gave off a great presence.
And, according to the guys who played with him here, he was a great coach. That is just as important.”
In his first competitive El Clasico match, the 20-year-old phenom sealed his incredible Real Madrid debut with a breathtaking, game-winning brace.
With a powerful 25-yard effort in the 68th minute, Bellingham cancelled out Ilkay Gundogan’s opening goal for Barcelona, and then went one better.
The England international silenced the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys with his winning goal in the 92nd minute, displaying his signature celebration.
It was his 13th goal in 13 Real Madrid games, surpassing Zinedine Zidane’s record of most goals scored for Los Blancos.
Bellingham has grown into a fully fledged football player with a wide range of skills, and he even shines when he addresses the media.
But Bellingham’s best friend Odin Bailey, who attended the same Priory School as him and was on Birmingham’s books for fifteen years before relocating to Salford City and now lives in Stockport County, has also been aware of this little-known weakness.
Bailey disclosed to The Sun that Bellingham is not a decent golfer, in contrast to many elite football players.
When asked what Bellingham’s weakness is, he said, “Golf!”
He’s not good at golf. He won’t let me persuade him to play, despite my best efforts.
“He can’t be proficient in every endeavour, can he?”
Real Madrid is now four points ahead of Barcelona at the top of La Liga because to Bellingham’s heroics. This might be a significant outcome at season’s finish.
Additionally, during his first full season at Real, boss Carlo Ancelotti has already given him an objective to go for.
He claimed, in an interview later, that “he can easily reach 20–25 goals.”We don’t consider him to be a striker or a goal scorer. We wait for the rest of us to score goals, but he is scoring.
Bellingham performs like an old pro. He has an amazing mindset.”
The 20-year-old, who signed with Real Madrid before of their 2023–24 season, has already scored eight goals in eight league games, leaving a huge impression.
The 37-year-old former international Rooney has now voiced his opinion after the Birmingham-born midfielder contributed two assists during England’s 3-1 victory over Italy on Tuesday.
“What [Jude Bellingham’s] doing is incredible,” declared the former Three Lion as he got ready for his debut game as the Blues’ manager. He took a risk by travelling to Dortmund, and it was a risk that demonstrated his skill and maturity.
“It’s been fantastic for him to advance to the next level at Real Madrid and begin the season the way he has with England.”
He went on to add that Bellingham has the “potential” to rank among the world’s finest football players because he is now enjoying “such a good run of form.”
He has a purple patch on him. I think he’ll be a great captain. The former DC United manager went on, “He’s really impressed with how he handles himself, how he speaks, how he plays—he’s a leader already, at the age of 20.”
However, I believe that what’s crucial is that he will experience a downturn, and it’s critical that we support him and don’t kill him when that occurs with him.
Wayne Rooney stated that in the future, supporters should ‘get behind’ Jude Bellingham. Regards: Getty
“We really look forward to the future with him and feel like we need to protect him.”
The legendary Manchester United player claimed that England supporters are “too quick to get on players’ backs” and that a slump in form “happens to all players.”
“He’s at the peak of his abilities, but let’s support him if he does experience a setback.” Jude will experience adversity; you’ve witnessed it with Marcus [Rashford] and Raheem [Sterling].
In addition, the 37-year-old urged supporters to support Harry Maguire, who has recently been the subject of hate speech on the internet.
The 20-year-old is regarded as an England captain of the “future.” Regards: Getty
“Let’s support all the other players, especially Maguire, who has struggled at Manchester United,” someone said.
It’s interesting to note that Rooney’s remarks regarding Bellingham echoe a caution that Sven Goran-Eriksson issued back in 2006.
The former England manager begged football supporters not to “kill” his player after getting sent off by Horacio Elizondo in their World Cup quarterfinal loss to Portugal during his final press conference.
The 75-year-old Goran-Eriksson stated at the time, “I think that you, much more than me, need Wayne Rooney.” Don’t murder him, he’s the golden kid of English football.
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