‘He’s a physical Zidane’ – Arsenal legend heaps praise on Real Madrid rising star | OneFootball

Jude Bellingham will undisputedly be the player in focus when Borussia Dortmund take on Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on June 1.

The midfielder, after all, will be taking on his former club at Wembley, just a year after joining Real Madrid. He will also head into this game as one of Real Madrid’s most prolific and important players.

As Bellingham mentally prepares for this special game, he has received praise from legendary manager Arsene Wenger.

Wenger compares Bellingham to Zidane

“Zinedine Zidane arrived at Real Madrid when he was 29 years old, while this boy is 20 years old and that is a big difference,” Wenger said (h/t MARCA).

The former Arsenal manager went on to label Bellingham as a more physical version of the legendary Real Madrid midfielder.

Wenger compares Bellingham to Zidane (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“Bellingham is like a mix of Zidane with a physically powerful player. He is a physical Zidane,” he added.

It appears Wenger is indeed surprised at how well Bellingham has managed pressure and expectations at such a young age.

Very few can blame the Frenchman either, as Bellingham has racked up 22 goals and 10 assists in 39 competitive matches this season.

Bellingham is the second-highest scorer in La Liga with 18 goals. His contributions have been key in helping Real Madrid reclaim the league title, whereas his eight-goal involvements in the Champions League have helped Los Blancos reach the final.

The Englishman has been criticised by pundits for his receding form in 2024, but the midfielder has received backing from top footballing personalities, including Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was also left surprised by Bellingham’s performances this season.