Jude Bellingham, a Real Madrid and England midfielder, has found a player who he believes will transcend his own qualities as he continues to excel at Euro 2024.
The 20-year-old midfielder will remember his first season at Real Madrid, 2023/24, as extremely extraordinary. He scored 19 goals and gave six assists for Los Blancos, helping them win La Liga and the Champions League.
Bellingham’s remarkable efforts earned him the 2023 Golden Boy Award, with the jury awarding him a record-breaking 485 points out of a potential 500, naming him Europe’s best under-21 player.
After establishing himself as one of the best young stars in global football, Bellingham has selected a Real Madrid colleague whom he believes will exceed His own achievements.
He singled highlighted Arda Guler as having the potential to leave a long legacy in the sport.
The Golden Boy award’s originator, Massimo Franchi, provided insights from his interaction with Bellingham during last year’s gala.
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Franchi mentioned Bellingham talking about his younger brother Jude and Turkey’s rising star. “At the time, he mentioned that his brother Jobe, who plays for Sunderland, could be a favorite for the 2024 award,” Franchi told German publication Frankfurter Rundschau. “It was said in jest, as Jobe doesn’t yet play for a Premier League club and is ineligible under Golden Boy rules.”
“In December of last year, Jude mentioned to me that Real Madrid has an amazing young kid who Arda Güler of Turkey, who scored a fantastic goal against Albania and has demonstrated amazing technique in training, may even be better than him. Güler is only 19 years old.
Luka Modric recently lauded Arda Güler, who scored in Turkey’s Euro 2024 match against Georgia, citing his excellent reception in recent months. Modric praised the teenager shortly after his arrival at Real Madrid, stating, “I love him; he’s a great kid.” He is ready to learn, improve, and listen. “He’s an incredible talent.”
Modric mentioned Güler’s struggles with ailments after joining Madrid, saying, “Unfortunately, he got injured when he arrived in Madrid, then recovered but perhaps rushed his return to impress Madrid and got injured again.” Modric advised Güler to proceed cautiously and stressed his youth, adding, “I told him he needed to take it gently, step by step. He is young, thus he has time to demonstrate his ability and talent to the madrid fans
