Real Madrid full-back Lucas Vazquez says it is too early to say if Jude Bellingham can match the goals of club legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
The English midfielder has had a blistering start to life at the Santiago Bernabeu since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, with 16 competitive goals to his name, including 12 goals in La Liga which sees him sit atop the goalscorers chart.
Ronaldo scored 450 goals during his nine years at the Bernabeu and is Madrid’s all-time top scorer while Benzema is second on the list with 354 goals. Vazquez is however hopeful that 20-year-old Bellingham can get close to their figures in future.
“It’s too soon to say that,” Vazquez told the club website. “Bellingham has made an unbelievable start and we’ll all do our best to help him continue in the same vein for years to come.
“You’re talking about Benzema and Cristiano, two Real Madrid legends and I hope he can get close to them.”
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Vazquez also added about Bellingham’s fast adaptation at Madrid: “What a player! We’re thrilled to have him here. We’ve seen the kind of player he is in training from day one.
“He helps the team with his goals and works as hard as anyone. He’s really enjoying Real Madrid and I hope he can keep up his form and continue helping Madrid in every facet of the game.”
Speaking ahead of Madrid’s final Champions League Group C game against Union Berlin, manager Carlo Ancelotti drew comparisons between Kaka and Bellingham. Ancelotti managed the retired Brazilian star at AC Milan between 2003 and 2009, winning the Champions League in 2007.
“Kaka used to drive into the box with the ball but he didn’t have Bellingham’s ability to arrive in the box without the ball,” Ancelotti said.
“That really makes a difference. Not playing with a fixed striker gives him more chance to get into the box with more space to shoot. It was a different system with Kaká and it was harder for him. Bellingham’s movement without the ball is incredibly effective.”
