sport news PETE JENSON: How Real Madrid convinced Jude Bellingham he is the heir to Luka ... trends now
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Replacing Luka Modric was never going to be easy, but Real Madrid believe Jude Bellingham is the player to do it. That’s also how they have sold the transfer to the 19-year-old — persuading him to turn down bigger offers from the Premier League to become the heir to Modric’s throne.
Madrid have pursued Bellingham since the start of the season but there was a fear at the Spanish club that they would be eclipsed by the pull of a return to England and by the superior financial power of Manchester City.
They knew they had to convince the player first, and there is now a sense that the courting has paid off and that structuring payments with Borussia Dortmund — with whom they have a good relationship — will be the easier part of the deal.
It has been noticeable that Modric has still not signed a new deal, while Toni Kroos’ future has been sorted out. There has been suggestions that Modric, whose contract runs out at the end of this season, had an offer from a Saudi Arabian club and would move on in summer. Bellingham would take his place, and quite possibly his No 10 shirt and his £18million basic gross salary.
Moving on the legends of the club’s greatest ever midfield is not easy. Casemiro was sold to Manchester United last
