Golden Boy winner Jude Bellingham praises Carlo Ancelotti but admits he is disappointing the Real Madrid coach because he still can’t speak Spanish: ‘I admit it’s difficult for me.’
Bellingham will receive the Golden Boy Award in Turin on Monday night during an event organised by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport.
“It’s fantastic, it’s an extraordinary result. I am glad of it and I thank all the jurors who voted for me,” Bellingham told the Turin-based paper.
“I am the third English player to win this award after Wayne Rooney, one of my idols, in 2005 when he was at Manchester United and Raheem Sterling in 2014 when he was playing for Liverpool.”
Who does he dedicate this victory to?
“Everyone. Many people. My teammates at Real Madrid, the staff members, coach Ancelotti, the president, my family, my mum Denise and my father Mark, my younger brother Jobe and all my friends who have bombarded me with texts and congratulations. Without all these people’s help, on and off the pitch, I could not have won the Golden Boy.”
Bellingham joined Real Madrid last summer and has had a stunning start to the season, scoring 15 goals in 17 appearances across all competitions, including two against Napoli in the Champions League group stage.
“I’ve had a ferocious commitment to improving myself with hard work, but the credit goes to coach Ancelotti who has found the right position for me, giving me more freedom, so I’m flying now,” he said.
“However, I know I am disappointing him in one aspect.”
Which one?
“I still don’t speak Spanish. I am sorry but I am finding obstacles I didn’t expect with this language. I admit it’s difficult for me, but I promise maximum commitment.”
Bellingham ended the interview by predicting who could succeed him as the Golden Boy winner in the coming years.
“Aside from those born in 2003, I can name three players. Arda Güler, who has recovered from injuries that have prevented him from making his debut with Real Madrid. He is a phenomenon and we see it in training, we are all amazed by him. Then, my former Borussia Dortmund teammate Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and my brother Jobe, a striker, like our father.”
Bellingham had scored 24 goals in 132 appearances with Borussia Dortmund before a €103m transfer to Real Madrid last summer. His contract at the Estadio Bernabeu runs out in June 2029.