EXCLUSIVE — Clarence Seedorf insists the pressure of playing for former club Real Madrid is a completely unique beast for Jude Bellingham to handle, following his arrival to kick off the summer transfer window.
Bellingham completed an £88 million ($145m/€103m) move to Los Blancos from Borussia Dortmund in June, becoming the most expensive teenage midfielder of all time, and the third-priciest teenager overall, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Joao Felix.
Across his three seasons in Germany and one with the senior Birmingham City team, he's already racked up 176 club appearances — with his international caps, including a handful at the 2022 World Cup, taking the figure to a round 200.
He follows the likes of Michael Owen, David Beckham and Steve McManaman as Englishmen to play for arguably the world's biggest club, as he aims to rapidly build on his one trophy (the 2020/21 DFB-Pokal) after coming so close to a Bundesliga title with Dortmund last term.
One man who knows all about the enormous load on the now 20-year-old's shoulders is Seedorf, who moved to Madrid in 1996. Across his three full seasons, the former Netherlands midfielder missed a mere three games in La Liga.
Though he was ever reliable, Seedorf was something of a phenomenon in terms of how his body held up against the rigours of a league campaign, despite being thrust into first-team action so young at Ajax, in a similar path to Bellingham.
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Like Seedorf, Bellingham will now be expected to become the premier player on the planet in his position. Reflecting on the move, the AC Milan great told The Sporting News: "Madrid don't sign just anybody — they sign somebody because there is potential to be the best.
"I'm very cautious always to speak about young talents, especially nowadays. I want to give them the time to develop and show that they can be on the highest stage for the long run, and not just a few years.
"Now it's up to him to adapt, because it's not only important what happens on the pitch. There's so many things around it — adaptation to a new country, and the pressure is not the same as playing for any other club. I wish him all the best, of course.
"This is what he needs to show: that he can deal with it. Everybody dreams to play for Real Madrid at that age, so it's up to him. The club has spoken very loudly and clear; now it's up to him to put the work in and be ready for the challenge. If I were him, I would enjoy it! It's not an everyday thing to play for the biggest club in the world, especially at that age.
"Madrid have shown with their transition into looking into fresh blood over the years, to have found amazing talent, with Vinicius and other young players. He will be well received and supported."
That "fresh blood" referenced by Seedorf — who is currently on a mission to develop the next generation of young players himself, by launching the SK Performance Club in Canada — has been a marked change of tack for Madrid, previously known for their Galacticos policy of signing ready-made superstars.
Bellingham will join the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni in the youthful Madrid midfield, which should replace the legendary trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric for the 14-time European kings.
Though these boys will be hoping to emulate Seedorf and his status as a generational great, he doesn't see himself in any of the modern, more specialised midfielders. The closest right now, in fact, is a Manchester City playmaker — though only in terms of his decision-making.
Seedorf concluded: "I had a very particular style of play. I combined a lot of players, a mix — a little bit of Xavi, a little bit of [Andres] Iniesta, a little bit of Ronaldinho, a little bit of [Andrea] Pirlo. I would play in all those positions during a match.
"I grew up playing in many positions, which helped me be that versatile. What I do see in some players like [Kevin] De Bruyne is the mind, the thinking, the choices he makes. Also with Isco, when he was performing well at Madrid. He was many times doing things where I would've chosen the same."
Part three of The Sporting News' exclusive sitdown with Seedorf follows next week, as the midfield legend discusses his best ever manager, in Carlo Ancelotti.