Iker Casillas Sees Jude Bellingham As Future Captain Of Real Madrid

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has praised Jude Bellingham for his outstanding debut season in LaLiga, suggesting the young midfielder has the potential to become a future captain. Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid last season, finished as the top scorer with 19 goals and provided six assists, helping the team secure their 36th LaLiga title.

Bellingham's contributions extended beyond domestic competitions. He scored four goals in the Champions League, aiding Real Madrid in clinching their 15th continental title. The 20-year-old also plays a crucial role for England under Gareth Southgate, scoring the winning goal in their 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro 2024 group opener last Sunday.

Casillas expressed his admiration for Bellingham's swift adaptation to life at Real Madrid. "Bellingham has made it at the most important club in the world and has shown that he is a great player," Casillas said. "Now, and next year, more may be asked of him, but that is what will make him a star."

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Casillas, who captained Real Madrid during his career, believes Bellingham has all the qualities needed to assume the captaincy role in the future. "He can surely be the captain of Real Madrid," Casillas added. "There are more experienced players at the top now, but I would advise him to continue learning from the veterans there."

In addition to his club success, Bellingham is expected to play a significant role for England in Euro 2024. Casillas noted that England's strength and recent performance in major tournaments make them formidable contenders.

Spain also had a strong start to their Euro 2024 campaign, defeating Croatia 3-0 in their opening match. Casillas commented on Spain's prospects in the tournament, highlighting the importance of their upcoming match against Italy.

"I don't know how far Spain can go; there is still a lot of competition left," Casillas said. "The match against Italy is going to be a more serious and tougher challenge than Croatia."

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Casillas reminisced about his own experiences playing for Spain, recalling moments of intense concentration during major tournaments. He captained Spain to three major trophies: back-to-back Euros victories in 2008 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2010.

"I started in the Euros in 2000 when I was 18 years old," Casillas said. "From there it was so much growth, step by step as I improved my level."

Iker Casillas is currently a brand ambassador for Hisense's UEFA EURO 2024 campaign BEYOND GLORY. This campaign celebrates the relentless pursuit of excellence shared by professional footballers aiming for EURO honours and Hisense's commitment to innovation in the home appliance industry.