HUMBLE Jude Bellingham stunned Birmingham schoolkids – just days after signing for Real Madrid.
The superstar midfielder, who turns 20 this week, completed his staggering £115million transfer to the Bernabeu on June 14.
But he was back in his hometown the following week in yet another classy gesture to give something back to his beloved city.
Bellingham teamed up with his boot providers and sportswear giants adidas to open a pop-up store – named store twenty-two after his old Brum shirt – for 90 minutes in Birmingham city centre.
Not only did local kids pick up free 2023-24 Real Madrid kits, adidas boots and other Bellingham merchandise – but then they were given a huge surprise.
Bellingham himself appeared for a brilliant meet and greet and even went behind the checkout to hand out the freebies.
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The midfielder came through the youth ranks at Birmingham City before joining Borussia Dortmund for £25m in 2020.
The Blues famously retired his No22 jersey upon his departure.
And Bellingham is still very much in touch with the club and city that helped raise him into a Galactico.
The teenager said: “I may now play for Real Madrid, but Birmingham will forever be my home.
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“I am forever thankful to my family and friends for their support throughout my journey so far, as well as to the people of Birmingham.
“Ever since I made my debut here, their support has pushed me on, and helped me to believe that anything is possible.
“Today I wanted to come back and show them what that means to me, and to make sure they can be a part of the exciting next chapter of my career.”
Bellingham’s £115m switch to Los Blancos ensured he became the most expensive British player ever – and a £10m sell-on bonus for Birmingham.
He signed a six-year deal which will make him one of the European giants’ top earners.
The ex-Dortmund ace admitted his “heart was close to stopping” when his dad told him about Real’s interest as he snubbed the “easy” option of heading home to the Premier League.
And he will wear the iconic No5 jersey – following in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
