Shirt of Real Madrid star has been retired. See why

At 19, Jude Bellingham is already seen as one of the best players in the world.

The young midfielder left his boyhood club Birmingham City at an early age, to sign for Borussia Dortmund.

He has eventually departed Dortmund, and signed up with Real this month.

Bellingham is already a key player for the England national team, and is a huge role model at Birmingham, who have since retired his No. 22 shirt.

Pep Clotet, gave Bellingham his debut at Birmingham City and has revealed how Birmingham City knew they were working with a special talent in a teenage Jude Bellingham.

Speaking on Birmingham’s decision to retire the shirt of the teenage midfielder, Clotet said: “It surprised me at first, to be honest, but then I understood. I realised that it was a very important part of the club. This project had been created for the footballer, who grew up from below, and meant meeting the goal.

“It was the way of understanding the process as a success: of the coach, of the club, of the player, of the player’s family. A team of various components that worked hard during that year to achieve a certain goal.

“They did the shirt thing to mark the end of a process in which we all participated. It went right.”

On Bellingham’s chances of succeeding with Real Madrid, Clotet is adamant that he has what it takes.

He also said: “Yes. He has grown a lot, but the next step is the most difficult because the great footballers have to win. I mentioned it to him in a message during the season. And he has stayed at the gates. That training phase has already been done. Now he has to go to a place where they can teach him how to win. And he is in a perfect place.

“I think that has weighed heavily on his decision. Because Jude is a winner and Real Madrid is a winning club. He can learn the culture of a true great, of a team that always fights to win. I think that’s what makes you give that last point to players that only the greats can do.”

Bellingham wore his favoured No. 22 jersey at Dortmund, but would wear the No. 5 at Real Madrid – the jersey number of his football hero, Zinédine Zidane.