Barcelona head coach Xavi has today moved to reveal his admiration for Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, ahead of the showdown between the two sides on Sunday night.
The latest chapter of the Clásico story, of course, is primed to play out in a little over 24 hours’ time.
This comes as Barcelona and Real Madrid prepare to lock horns for the first piece of silverware of the Spanish season – the Supercopa de España.
The clash, as ever, comes as a highly-anticipated one, likely to be decided by moments of individual brilliance by way of the host of star performers on show.
This certainly proved the case on the last occasion on which La Liga’s two biggest clubs faced off, when Jude Bellingham proved himself the difference-maker courtesy of a match-winning brace.
Speaking to the media with a view to Sunday’s Clásico, the aforementioned Xavi, in turn, was asked for his take on Bellingham’s talents, amid what has proven a historic debut campaign to date for the Englishman.
And the Barcelona headmaster was not shy in heaping praise on Real’s midfield dynamo, labelling Bellingham ‘a complete player’:
“He is great at arriving from the second line,” he began, as cited by Diario Sport. “We have the example of the goal he scored against us in the league Clásico in Montjuïc. He is a very complete player, with great technique and very strong physically.”
Xavi was also keen to stress, though, that he and his coaching staff will be sure not to focus their attentions too heavily on any one member of Carlo Ancelotti’s ranks:
“We don’t focus on one player because we would go crazy. They all have an extraordinary level. Vinicius, Rodrygo, Bellingham, Modric, Tchouameni… it’s Real Madrid.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
