Steve McManaman: How Jude Bellingham can 'become one of the greats' at Real Madrid after superb start

Steve McManaman is cautiously optimistic that Jude Bellingham can continue his incredible rise and become one of the all-time greats at Real Madrid.

The 20-year-old has made an outstanding start to life at the Bernabeu following a €103 million (£88m) transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

He has scored 13 goals in his first 13 games with the club and last week won the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

McManaman enjoyed plenty of success himself during four years in Madrid and thinks Bellingham can be inspired by those who have come before him at the Bernabeu.

“When you play for Real Madrid, you have to be successful. That comes with the glamour of playing for Real Madrid,” McManaman told TNT Sports.

“They are the most successful football club in European history, so he will have to carry on winning trophies and add to the history of Real Madrid to become one of the greats.

“There are many things to help him carry on improving, because all he has to do is look at the walls of the Bernabeu and see [Alfredo] Di Stefano, [Ferenc] Puskas, Raul, [Zinedine] Zidane, while [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Luka] Modric and [Toni] Kroos have all won five Champions Leagues.

“These people around you will drive you forward, and hopefully make him a better player, because then we will feel the benefit when he's got an England shirt on.”

Although he has been impressed by Bellingham's start at Madrid, McManaman also cited previous examples of players being put under too much scrutiny at the start of their careers.

"We put so much pressure on them; I remember Theo Walcott got into the England team [at the age of 17], and you were thinking: ‘Was it too soon?’

“Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen also got into the England team at a young age, and we went gung-ho into them. I like to allow them to breathe, settle, develop and mature.

“I sit here now as an ex-player, and can say Zidane was a world star, as was the Brazilian Ronaldo. When Cristiano [Ronaldo] retires, he will be a world star.

"I hope in 18 years if Bellingham retires as a 38-year-old, that I'll be saying he's one of the greatest we've seen, because he's done something really special.

“At this moment, there is no pressure on him. Let's hope he develops as a player in a Real Madrid and England shirt and becomes a very successful young man.”

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