Real Madrid stars Luka Modric and Antonio Rudiger are two of the most experienced players in world football, but even they are excited about Jude Bellingham’s potential. The trio look set to feature in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, with Bellingham on the hunt for his first winners medal. The Champions League final will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Luka Modric believes Jude Bellingham’s work ethic has been second to none during his remarkable debut campaign with Real Madrid.
The England midfielder looks set to face his former club Borussia Dortmund in Saturday’s Champions League final having scored 23 goals and produced ten assists during his first season with Los Blancos.
Modric has five Champions League winner’s medals to his name already, but there have been reports that the Croatian is approaching the end of his remarkable 12-year stay in the Spanish capital.
The Champions League final will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+, and Modric admits he has enjoyed helping the next generation of midfielders coming through at Madrid over the last 12 months.
“Jude has shown to everyone what kind of player and what kind of talent he is,” he said.
“But what surprised me about him, because I didn’t know him when I saw him playing and I heard the things about him, was his mentality.
“His work ethic is second to none.
“He is amazing every training session, every game.
“His winning mentality is what impressed me most apart from his football IQ.
“We are there for them [the young players] to help them in any aspect, to show them how they need to behave, how they need to to play.
“When you come here, the club shows you the way you need to behave, how you need to act, how you need to play.
“This club gives you a mentality, a winning mentality that means you never give up and always believe until the end.
“We have shown so many times.
“It is not a coincidence that it repeats, time after time, and that’s why we are here to help them and compete with them.”
Madrid beat Germany giants Bayern Munich 4-3 on aggregate to progress to their 18th Champions League final.
Antonio Rudiger is no stranger to winning European football’s grandest prize, having lifted the trophy in 2021 with former club Chelsea.
The German defender admits he was surprised by Bellingham’s ability to deliver under pressure.
“I have to be very honest, before, I didn’t really know much about him,” he said.
“He kind of took everyone by surprise because, I think to come here at the age of 20 and deliver like he has so far, I have to give him kudos for this.
“These are humble boys I have to say, at Madrid it has always been like this, you have to know your role.
“I think this is very, very important, the players here don’t get things mixed up because we have our veterans and you have the guys in the middle and you have the youngsters.
“Everybody in each sector knows that 100%.”