Real Madrid’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu after vacating its home stadium due to building works was supposed to be a celebration for Madridistas but, as time ticked away, the Spanish giant was being pegged to a 1-1 draw by Getafe.
Enter Jude Bellingham who, deep into added time, was fastest to a rebound off goalkeeper David Soria, prodded the ball into the net, and secured Madrid’s fourth consecutive victory – and his second late match-winner in a row. In front of a wall of sound, the 20-year-old stood with arms outstretched, tugged at the club’s crest on his shirt and pointed at the sky.
Bellingham, it seemed, belonged at the Bernabéu, as if he was holding his arms out to the fans and they were roaring their approval, serenading him with a rendition of the The Beatles’ “Hey Jude.”
It was the loudest cheer Bellingham had ever heard on a football pitch, he said afterwards to Real Madrid TV.
“I couldn’t believe it, to be honest. When they were signing ‘Hey Jude’ at the end, I got goosebumps. I just wanted to turn and stand still and listen to it while my legs were shaking,” he said.
🤩 ¡Cuando marcas tu primer gol en el Bernabéu!
5️⃣ @BellinghamJude #RealMadridGetafe pic.twitter.com/xjHUfFbK6m— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 3, 2023
Already, Jude Bellingham’s goalscoring celebration in Real Madrid’s famous white shirt is omnipresent – after just four La Liga games, he has scored five goals, the most in the league.
Bellingham is the second Real Madrid player in history – after club legend Cristiano Ronaldo – to score in his first four La Liga games.
For his part in Madrid’s perfect start to the season, he was named La Liga’s player for the month for August – his debut month in the competition.
