Sunderland have some exciting young players in their ranks. So much so that Real Madrid are taking notice.
Sunderland under Kristjaan Speakman and owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus have put together a very exciting first-team squad.
Over the summer, Sunderland fielded interest in several of their key players, including the likes of Trai Hume, Dan Ballard, Jobe Bellingham and several others.
In the end, Jack Clarke joined Ipswich Town in the only high profile player departure at the Stadium of Light.
But it could’ve been more. And in years to come, many more might follow the path of Clarke and move on.
Right now, Chris Rigg is the man in headlines, with reports that Real Madrid are interested in Rigg following his impressive start to the 2024/25 season.
17-year-old Rigg signed a new Sunderland contract in the summer and has quickly become a key player under Regis Le Bris.
But Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has previously joked about signing Bellingham, according to his older brother Jude.
Carlo Ancelotti joked about signing Sunderland ace Jobe Bellingham at Real Madrid
Speaking in a recent video on his YouTube account, England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham shared an interesting story involving his brother Jobe.
Jude revealed that he and some at Real Madrid watched Jobe play and score twice for Sunderland, no doubt in the 2-1 win vs Rotherham United in August last year in which Jobe scored both.
Jude revealed: “I still remember when my brother Jobe scored twice, we were watching the game.
“Ancelotti said, ‘We brought the wrong one! I’m going to bring him [Jobe] here’”.
Jobe continued: “I said, ‘Where are you going to play him?’ Carlo said, ‘In your position!'”
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Can Jobe Bellingham make it to the top whilst at Sunderland
Bellingham has certainly shown signs of a player with huge potential, despite having received quite mixed reviews at times last season.
He’s a player who possesses a lot of qualities; pace and power, an eye for goal, and good passing ability, and playing so much football, he’ll only get better and better.
During the summer, Spurs were linked with Bellingham, along with the likes of Crystal Palace, and so it shows that clubs rate Bellingham highly.
But he has a way to go before he reaches the heights of his older brother.
With Sunderland though, Bellingham is at a great place to play football and develop, and he’s doing just that.