Jude Bellingham has emphasized that his decision to join Real Madrid was not motivated by money but rather by his desire to contribute to the rich footballing history of the Spanish side. The England international spoke to reporters on Thursday following his official signing with Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth 103 million euros plus add-ons, securing a six-year contract.
“Money is not a thing for me. I don’t think about money at all when I make these kind of decisions. I never have, I never will. I play the game purely out of love,” Bellingham stated.
He explained that his choice to join Real Madrid was not due to any shortcomings of other teams, but rather because he believes Madrid is the greatest. He highlighted the high level of respect England has for Real Madrid and their outstanding pedigree in European competitions.
“I took a lot of interest in that. I think that’s what makes Madrid appealing to me. It has a great history and you want to be one of the players that adds to it and continues to make it the greatest,” Bellingham expressed.
Upon joining Real Madrid, Bellingham will join a formidable midfield that includes experienced players like Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, as well as promising young talents such as Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurelien Tchouameni. The 19-year-old will wear the number five shirt, the same number once worn by former Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane during his successful five-year tenure at the club.