Replacing Luka Modric was never going to be easy, but Real Madrid believe Jude Bellingham is the player to do it. That’s also how they have sold the transfer to the 19-year-old — persuading him to turn down bigger offers from the Premier League to become the heir to Modric’s throne.
Madrid have pursued Bellingham since the start of the season but there was a fear at the Spanish club that they would be eclipsed by the pull of a return to England and by the superior financial power of Manchester City.