Real Madrid currently dominates the La Liga points table as league leaders with a seven-point lead over arch-rival Barcelona, positioned third. The credit for their splendid campaign is attributed to the new midfield sensation Jude Bellingham, who has propelled them to the top.
Besides setting new records with his majestic performances, including surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid record in 15 matches, the Englishman is breaking a unique league rule during every appearance for Los Blancos, following in the footsteps of club legend Gareth Bale.
Jude Bellingham following Gareth Bale footsteps
Real Madrid’s latest midfield general, Jude Bellingham has been breaking a peculiar La Liga regulation every time he steps onto the pitch for the 14-time Champions League winners. The reason is rather unusual: the 20-year-old wears socks with holes, which is deemed illegal according to league rules.
This method isn’t merely a fashion thing, rather, it carries substantial significance. Playing with such a pair of socks prevents injury by improving blood circulation in the calves, reducing tightness, and lessening the chances of potential cramps.
However, Bellingham is not the sole player to embrace this approach while donning the Madrid club’s colors. In the past, Gareth Bale, the iconic Welsh forward, sported leggings with holes throughout his tenure at the Spanish capital from 2013 to 2022.
Alongside Jude, his fellow teammate Brahim Diaz has also adopted this practice. Nonetheless, La Liga’s dress code violations are happily being ignored by the league.
Jude Bellingham doing justice to his price tag
Jude Bellingham firmly solidified his place among the world’s elite players in the past few campaigns. With consistently promising performances, he has endeared himself to supporters. Recently, He received the Golden Boy Award in 2023, recognizing him as the best U21 player.
Despite his role as a midfielder, Bellingham concluded the year 2023 as the top scorer in La Liga amassing an impressive tally of 13 goals and 2 assists in a total of 17 league appearances so far this season. In the Champions League, he has contributed with 7 goals in just 5 matches during the group stage.
Therefore, the 20-year-old has proven to be worth every bit of the $110 million that Real Madrid invested in bringing the English prodigy to Spain from Borussia Dortmund. He has unquestionably justified his hefty price tag with his exhilarating performances for his new club, acting as the driving force behind their consistent performances this season.
