Real Madrid are ‘interested’ in Sunderland star, and Carlo Ancelotti has already namedropped him

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After an impressive, award-winning campaign, one Sunderland star has reportedly attracted the attention of one of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Sunderland have secured a Championship play-off place with games to spare this season after scorching to the second-tier summit for several weeks in the early exchanges.

Regis Le Bris’ side host Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, on the back of their 2-0 defeat to Oxford United, before the regular season curtails and promotion campaign ensues.

The Black Cats are at risk of losing several stars, if they fail to earn promotion back to the Premier League and repeat the club’s worrying play-off history.

Once the Championship season draws to a close, attention will instantly turn towards what is expected to be a busy summer transfer window, with one Sunderland talent courting the attention of Real Madrid.

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Real Madrid ‘interested’ in Sunderland star Jobe Bellingham

Sunderland midfield star Jobe Bellingham won the Championship Young Player of Season award this week, after an impressive campaign in which the 19-year-old has made 39 Championship appearances, notching seven goal contributions as his side sit fourth.

Chris Rigg also won Apprentice of the Season, with both Bellingham and Rigg making comments fans will love, showing the teenage duo’s sights are set firmly on the play-off final trophy next month.

Former Birmingham City youngster Bellingham has been a revelation since his 2023 switch to Sunderland, scoring seven in 45 Championship appearances last term in his first full second tier season.

With his stock continuing to rise, and an array of top European clubs including Borussia Dortmund tracking Bellingham, the latest footballing institution to add to the list of his suitors is that of his brother Jude Bellingham’s employers Real Madrid.

Major Spanish news outlet Marca stated: “After this impressive campaign, the younger Bellingham has already caught the attention of several European giants, including his brother’s club, Real Madrid.

“At 19 years old, playing in a similar position to Jude, he has scored four goals and provided three assists in his 39 league appearances this year.

“Jobe has the opportunity in the coming weeks to secure a place next year in one of the best competitions in the world, the English top flight. For the moment he is following in his brother’s footsteps.”

Bellingham has been one of the Championship’s best players this season and could soon follow his brother’s footsteps and become a senior England international made in the second tier.

Current Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has already named the Sunderland star after his efforts during his Black Cats debut season last term.

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Carlo Ancelotti has namedropped Sunderland ace Jobe Bellingham

In Jude Bellingham’s YouTube documentary detailing his first season at Madrid, he jokingly revealed that Ancelotti had been checking up on the Sunderland starlet, after he notched a brace to in the 2-1 victory over Rotherham United early last season.

Jude Bellingham said to his YouTube channel: “I’ve gone on the scores app, and he has scored again and I’m shaking and I’m in shock that he’s scored twice,

“And Ancelotti goes to me, ‘we bought the wrong one’, and he says no seriously I’m going to bring him, I’m going to bring him. I says, well where are you going to play him, and he says in your position.

“Then finally he gave me a little smirk and my heart just dropped and I thought okay fine then no pressure for today.”

Sunderland have already scouted Bellingham’s replacement and will be inundated with mouthwatering offers for the combative midfielder this summer.