Matthäus draws conclusion on Bellingham: He finds it rasier at Real Madrid than Dortmund

Former German footballer Lothar Matthäus shared intriguing insights into Jude Bellingham’s transition from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, in a recent interview with Daily Mail.

Jude Bellingham’s remarkable performance at Real Madrid—13 goals and 3 assists in just 14 games—has certainly turned heads.

Matthäus highlighted a notable observation: Bellingham appears to be playing with less pressure at Real Madrid compared to his time at Borussia Dortmund.

According to Matthäus, Bellingham, who was viewed as the leader at Dortmund, faced considerable pressure there. However, in the Real Madrid setup, Matthäus noted that there are seven or eight players of similar quality, seemingly lightening the load on Bellingham.

Matthäus put it in his own words, stating, “He plays differently. At Dortmund, he was the leader, and being so young, there was a lot of pressure to bear. Other teams thought, ‘If Bellingham is out, Dortmund is only 50%, but at Madrid, they have seven or eight players of similar quality to Bellingham, though in a different way.”

He went on to express his belief that having better teammates and being surrounded by more talent has made Bellingham’s experience easier at Real Madrid, even after his high-profile transfer, which cost over €100 million.

In Matthäus’s words, “For him, it’s easier to play at Real Madrid than at Dortmund because his teammates play better.”

Matthäus also shared his surprise at Bellingham’s impressive goal-scoring record, stating, “I’m surprised by all the goals he has scored.”

Looking ahead to Euro 2024, Matthäus sees England, with players like Harry Kane and Bellingham in stellar form, as a top contender. Despite Germany facing challenges, Matthäus expressed confidence in England’s talent pool, emphasizing Bellingham’s consistent performance since the Qatar World Cup.