Jude Bellingham signed for Borussia Dortmund in 2020 when he was just 17 and former team-mate Marco Reus has admitted he always knew the Real Madrid star was destined for greatness
Former Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus has revealed how he always knew “special” Jude Bellingham would be a superstar. The England international joined the German side as a teenager in 2020 and was immediately thrown into the first team.
Bellingham was an instant hit as he played 46 times in his first season, scoring four times, and earning rave reviews from the German press. After three seasons with Dortmund, Bellingham secured a £100m move to Real Madrid, where his career has reached new heights. He scored 23 goals in his first season to help the club win La Liga and the Champions League.
Bellingham hasn’t been as prolific in his second season, scoring 11 times from 39 games, but he is still a key part of Carlo Ancelotti’s team at the Bernabeu and has turned provider – registering 10 assists.
Now his former Dortmund team-mate Reus – who is currently plying his trade in the MLS with LA Galaxy – has spoken about Bellingham’s initial rise to prominence when he first joined the club five years ago, admitting he noticed he had a “big talent”.
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He said: “I would say this guy was 17 or 18 when he came to Dortmund. I saw immediately he had the strength and power and quality to play for this club. He wanted to play always and give his life for the club.
“I saw immediately he had big talent and a big heart. Now you can see it in Madrid he has huge quality. The stats speak for themselves, especially last year.
“He’s special and the people of Dortmund loved him because he was working hard and people really appreciated those efforts. He showed it every game and every training. He’s a special guy for sure.”
Reus now plays for LA Galaxy in the MLS after spending 12 years with Dortmund. He suffered a difficult time with injuries but still managed 429 appearances, scoring 170 goals.
He’s already played 11 times for his new team and has admitted he is loving his new chapter in the United States. “The guys in the dressing room, and the fans helped me a lot,” he said. “The atmosphere in the stadium was brilliant during play-off season.
“You cannot compare Dortmund and LA (as cities). Dortmund is a football community with hard-workers, here is different but the fans love to see you give everything for the club. That is my goal to give everything to the club, and win the Championship again for this city.”
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