Jude Bellingham’s promising start with Real Madrid has quickly helped quell some of the disappointment prompted by Karim Benzema’s departure and the club’s failure to bring in Kylian Mbappé.
“We think that Bellingham’s arrival makes up for Karim’s absence,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told Italy’s Radio Serie A on Tuesday in comments picked up by the Spanish sports daily Marca. “He is a serious and mature kid, with a lot of quality. What he has been able to do so far doesn’t surprise those who know him. What is a surprise is that he is only 20 years old.”
Spanish daily Marca said the high number of shirts sold with Bellingham’s name has allowed Madrid to reach the same levels of sales as last summer, when it won its 14th European title. In marketing numbers, Bellingham was quickly becoming on par with Vinícius Júnior and Eduardo Camavinga, the players with most shirt sales.
Benzema, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, was the team’s top player the last few seasons, leading the attack after Cristiano Ronaldo departed. The French striker left to take a lucrative deal in Saudi Arabia. There was hope Mbappé would finally join Madrid this season, but the club has yet to make a deal work with Paris Saint-Germain.
Madrid is playing its first three games on the road because of renovation work at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.Defending champion Barcelona will face Villarreal on Sunday to try to win its second consecutive match after opening with a 0-0 draw at Getafe. The Catalan club will still be without coach Xavi Hernandez and forward Raphinha, who received two-game suspensions after being sent off against Getafe.
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