Bellingham now world’s best player – Ancelotti

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said that England attacking midfielder Jude Bellingham is the best player in the world.

Bellingham who signed for Real Madrid in the 2022/23 summer from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund on a six-year deal worth €103m has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season for Los Blancos.

Ancelotti spoke to the media in a press conference ahead of Los Blancos Copa del Rey round of 32 matches against Arandina on Saturday.

“[Bellingham] is doing very well,” Ancelotti said when asked if the 20-year-old England star was the best in the world right now.

“He’s done well in the first half of the season. Bearing in mind that he has had to adapt to our club, to a new culture and language, he’s done very well. For us, obviously he’s the best.”

The CIES Football Observatory recently ranked Bellingham as the most valuable player in world football with an estimated valuation of €267.5m.

Ancelotti has twice won the Copa del Rey as Real Madrid coach, beating Barcelona 2-1 in an El Clásico final in 2014 thanks to a late wondergoal from Gareth Bale, before last season’s victory over Osasuna.

“We’ve got [to the final] twice and both times we’ve had a lot of happiness,” Ancelotti said. “It was unforgettable in Valencia [in 2014] and in Seville [last year].”