It was a case of the ‘calma before the storm’ this week when Jude Bellingham spoke to Spanish television ahead of Saturday’s Clasico.
‘I always remember Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebration telling everyone “calma, calma”,’ said the England midfielder of his memories of watching the fixture at home. Some Spanish words are easier to learn than others.
At 20, Bellingham will be the youngest player in a Real Madrid shirt on the pitch in Catalonia on Saturday, but in Alejandro Balde (20, but born four months later), Gavi (19) and Lamine Yamal (16), there will be three players his junior lining up for Barcelona.