The England midfield dynamo Jude Bellingham recently became the sixth Englishman to sign for Real Madrid and the second most expensive signing in the club’s history. This massive investment won’t be surprising to those who have followed the teenager’s career.
We at HTT Academy often use Bellingham’s example as an illustration of proper development and deployment. Two key elements of our training philosophy – freedom of expression and confidence – were vital to Bellingham’s progress at Birmingham City where he honed his skills as a youth team player. Seeing his undeniable talent, the team at Birmingham actively encouraged him to apply himself across positions in the middle of the park; an approach that made him into an all-round footballer. Today, Bellingham can play as a 4, an 8, or a 10; he can tackle, score brilliant goals, and pass the ball with vision.
At HTT Academy, we make our athletes understand that the most important thing for bright young talents is finding the right home for the expression and further development of their abilities. Prior to leaving England, Bellingham was courted by top clubs across Europe before his management decided on Borussia Dortmund as the best fit for him. It would be an understatement to say this decision was accurate.
In three seasons at Dortmund, the 19-year-old grew into a world-class midfielder: he became a leader on and off the pitch, earning the captain’s band and developing a strong bond with the fans. This past season his quality pulled the team through on many occasions, and he was named the league’s best player at the end.
Bellingham could have had his pick of clubs this time around as well, but the Madrid project appealed to him the most. Going by his demeanor at his unveiling, this will most likely turn out to be another perfect deployment.
