Bellingham reveals Real Madrid’s ‘most gifted player’ is UNDERRATED star

Robin Bairner

• 21 Feb 2025 09:30 GMT
• 4 min read

Jude Bellingham has picked Real Madrid’s “most gifted player”, overlooking both Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior in the process.

Mbappe has grabbed the headlines in recent weeks at the Bernabeu thanks to his explosive form, which culminated in a brilliant Champions League hat-trick against Manchester City on Wednesday. Vini Jr, meanwhile, only missed out on the Ballon d’Or by a whisker.

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Bellingham says, though, that there is a player in Carlo Ancelotti’s ranks who is above both of these stars on a technical level.

Speaking to CBS, he revealed: “Rodrygo is so underrated. For me, he is the most gifted player in the squad.

“The things he can do with a ball… he flicks it up and you say: ‘How does he do it?’

“When I try, I twist my ankle!”

Bellingham also heaped praise on the attitude of the 24-year-old.

“Rodrygo is the one who sacrifices the most. It’s clear that his favourite position is the left,” the England midfielder said.

“It’s important to note that he does a lot for the team defensively on the right. It’s not his favourite role but he never complains and just gets on with it and that’s the way we have to continue.”

Amid all the hype around Mbappe and Vini Jr, Rodrygo is often a player linked with moving away from Real Madrid, but it’s clear from Bellingham’s comments that the Brazilian is seen as a vital part of the team and highly respected from within the squad.

His qualities are reflected by the fact he has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €97m.

Pressure on Mbappe was unimaginable

Bellingham also reflected on Mbappe’s start to life at Real Madrid, admitting that the Frenchman started slowly but stating that he was under ‘unimaginable’ pressure.

“Everyone knows what a good player he is,” he said.

“The start of the season was difficult for him. The pressure on him was unimaginable for most players. It was only a matter of time before the goals came and when he got started he was always going to be a different level of player.

STATS

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé

F (C)

Real Madrid

UEFA Champions League

2024/25

• 10

  Games

• 7

  Goals

• 1

  Assists

View all stats

“You give him the ball in any situation, he can make something of it. The speed, his link-up with Vini, it’s really terrifying for most defenders.”

Bellingham will sit out Real Madrid’s next match against Girona, having been sent off in a 1-1 draw with Osasuna last weekend in controversial circumstances. He has been handed a two-game ban for dissent.