Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has insisted that summer signing Jude Bellingham is 'ready' to play for the club.
Bellingham completed his €103m transfer from Borussia Dortmund earlier this month, signing a six-year contract with Los Blancos.
The 19-year-old opted to take the number five shirt which was popularised during Zidane's playing days at the Santiago Bernabeu.
At his unveiling press conference, Bellingham said: "I admire Zidane a lot and it's a number that inspires me. I don't want to be like him, because I'm different. I'm delighted to wear this number. It's an honour.
"The shirt itself is a great responsibility. [Zidane] is a player I have always valued, for me he has been the best. I want to expand the legacy of the number."
Zidane, who won 17 trophies at Real Madrid as a player and across two spells as manager, has spoken fondly of Bellingham and recalled meeting him at Los Blancos' Champions League final victory against Liverpool in 2022.
READ MORE ON JUDE BELLINGHAM'S REAL MADRID MOVE
"Jude Bellingham is an important player for the future. He is ready to play at Real Madrid," Zidane said to Telefoot.
"I met Bellingham at the 2022 Champions League final, we spoke a little, I hope he has a great career."
Zidane also spoke of how football has changed from his era as a player, admitting it is now a more 'physical' sport.
"In my time, football was a little less physical than it is now," he added. "With only the technique you could go far. Now I think it's more complicated. Today's football is different, if I had played at this time, perhaps my physique would have played a trick on me."
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This article was originally published on 90min as Zinedine Zidane discusses Jude Bellingham's move to Real Madrid.
