Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham admits growing up a huge Birmingham City fan.

Bellingham spoke with L'Equipe after winning the Kopa Trophy on Monday night.

He said, "I admired the Birmingham players, the team that won the League Cup at Wembley (2-1 against Arsenal in 2011). My heroes were Seb Larsson, Craig Gardner and Lee Bowyer.

"As I got more into it, dad was the most important. Later, my first models were Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, simply because they played in England. And then when you grow up, you start watching football. My father had a fake Zidane shirt that he had bought on the beach. He took it everywhere, often at home. One day I asked him: 'By the way, who is that guy?' He said, 'Go on YouTube and check it out.'

"Since then, I probably haven't stopped. Zidane was the player I wanted to be. I was lucky enough to meet him during the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool (1-0, in 2022). I was like a child, with wide eyes. He is so humble for someone who has accomplished so much. He gave off a great presence. And, according to the guys who played with him here, he was a great coach. That is just as important."

On wearing Zidane's No5 shirt, he continued: “It's a kind of tribute, of course. But, at the same time, I follow my own path and it's almost like taking it and shaping it my way, making this number what I want it to be: Madrid's modern number 5."

And seeing Birmingham retire his No22 shirt, Bellingham also said: “They told me 'no one will take it until you get back to Birmingham'. I was like (shocked face) 'Really?' I had a good year (2019-2020), but it was nothing extraordinary.

"I looked around me. 'But wait, are we allowed to do that?' But I understand the position and the decision. My transfer saved the club, which was in a difficult situation."