Jude Bellingham says joining Real Madrid was a ‘no-brainer’

Jude Bellingham pursues Rúben Dias in the first leg in Madrid. Photograph: Javier García/Shutterstock

Jude Bellingham has said joining Real Madrid was a “no-brainer” despite interest from many other elite clubs including Manchester City, who they face in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg.

The midfielder signed for Real last summer from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth up to £115m after discussions with a host of clubs. Bellingham was asked how close he came to joining the treble winners.

“I had good chats with clubs including Dortmund [about a new contract] and my family were great in helping me chew up that information because it’s difficult while you are still in the season to take in the information and process it and still have to play at the weekend or in the Champions League,” he said. “I had conversations with other teams but when Madrid came in it was a no-brainer really.

“The size of the club, the project, the plan going forward, the chance to play with such amazing players. I just jumped at it. That’s why I made my decision.”

Bellingham is enjoying a standout first season at Real, scoring 20 times though his form has levelled off, registering only three of these since January.

Asked why, he pointed to the ankle problem suffered against Girona in early February.

“The injury killed my rhythm,” he said. “I felt a bit of pain, finally got over the feeling, played Valencia [first game back] and got suspended [being sent off]. It’s affected my rhythm. Early in the season I felt clear about what I was doing. But in the last games my role has changed [dropping into attacking midfield], maybe I lost that effectiveness, I have to regain it, I’m happy to take the criticism on the chin and I’m happy to do that.”

At the weekend Bellinghan’s Real teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni was allegedly racially abused by a Mallorca fan after scoring the winner. Bellingham called for real action from the authorities.

“It’s mad you say that, I didn’t know, in the games you get used to it,” he said. “It’s a massive problem, more has to be done. It’s a horrible way for a player to prepare for a game [knowing this may occur], it’s disgusting – people in the game need to do more.

“No one deserves that so it’s a call out for the people who run the game. I doubt it will happen. You have to play your game and hope the people look after you – they are not doing it well enough at the moment.”