Jude Bellingham was told off for doing his now famous celebration after netting on his Real Madrid debut.
The young English sensation has made it a habit to celebrate with widespread arms after smashing in goals for his club, yet he was met with a “you can’t do that here” by players from Athletic Bilbao.
In his blockbuster summer 2023 transfer, the star from Stourbridge joined Los Blancos in an eye-watering £86million deal. Come August 12, 2024, his debut for the Madrid giants turned heads as he didn’t wait long to mark the occasion, scoring before half-time against Bilbao in the first match of the 2023/24 season.
READ MORE:Jude Bellingham’s scorching model WAG leaves fans hot under the collar with low cut top
READ MORE: Kylian Mbappe’s response to being subbed by Real Madrid speaks volumes
Bellingham breezed through any debut jitters, expertly connecting with a cross and lobbing the ball over the opposing keeper. Known for his exploits at Borussia Dortmund over three thrilling seasons, he seized the moment to unleash his iconic ‘arms wide’ celebration in Real Madrid colours for the very first time.
With arms aloft and eyes cast to the sky, Bellingham faced a barrage of jeers from the home crowd at Bilbao. Unruffled by the hostile reaction, he revelled in the moment until he was confronted post-celebration by Iker Muniain, Bilbao’s then-skipper, who angrily urged him not to rile up the locals.
However, Bellingham concedes he didn’t take the Spanish pro’s warning to heart, reports the Express. Bellingham revealed on his newly-created YouTube channel, saying: “When you celebrate against an opposition you’re not doing it to provoke them, you’re just doing it because you’re happy you’ve scored. So yeah, I put my arms out and did the celebration that I always do.
“I remember a couple of their players came over to me saying ‘you can’t do that here’. I’ve not listened so yeah, I’ll probably keep doing it.”
How many goals will Jude Bellingham score this season? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below
(Image: Angel Martinez/Getty Images))
Despite Muniain’s cautionary words, Bellingham didn’t let it dent his swagger. The midfielder proved he was worth the whopping amount Madrid paid for him, as he bagged 23 goals and scooped up both La Liga and Champions League titles in his debut season.
And now, Bellingham’s signature move has gone viral, with sporting legends like Real Madrid’s Roberto Carlos, tennis star Carlos Alcaraz and UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov all copying the iconic celebration.