Real Madrid ready move for Sunderland teenager dubbed 'next Jude Bellingham'

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 11 Sept 2024 13:50 BST
3 min read

Real Madrid are set to battle the likes of RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund for teenage Sunderland star Chris Rigg, according to reports.

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The 17-year-old is on Carlo Ancelotti’s wishlist as Los Blancos ponder whether to bring in another English youngster to the fold, only this time without paying a mouth-watering transfer fee.

HITC relay that they have ‘been told by scouts working with two of Europe’s top clubs that they regard Rigg as ‘the best young English player since Jude Bellingham’.’

The report also reveals that Man Utd and Newcastle had tried to lure the player in before he signed his first professional contract with Sunderland.

Indeed, Dortmund are ‘looking at’ Rigg who could follow in the same path of Bellingham, who joined the German giants aged just 17 from his boyhood club Birmingham City.

But the strongest links is Madrid. It's thought the club "have also been watching Rigg for over 12 months and are monitoring his progress."

Rigg became Sunderland’s youngest-ever goalscorer at just 16 years and 51 days in an EFL Cup clash with Crewe Alexandra.

Real Madrid are known for moving for young talent from lesser leagues. In recent years, Endrick was signed directly from Brazilian side Palmeiras and Turkish youngster Arda Guler was bought from Fenerbahce.

© IMAGO - Endrick signed last year for Real Madrid

What is Chris Rigg's best position?

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris opened up on what he feels is the youngster's best position.

He said via the Sunderland Echo: “He's still a young player, so I think he can play on the right as a winger, but only out of possession because in a 1v1 situation, I think it's not his best position.

He continued: “But when he can roll inside and create a box, for example, he can play very well. As a midfielder, in the position he played today, I think he could play well, but he can also play as a number 10 in a 4-4-2, for example. So these three positions are good for him and good for the team.”