Jude Bellingham’s debut season at Real Madrid was nothing short of a fairytale. Playing a key role in Los Blancos’ La Liga and UCL triumph, Bellingham won over the Madridistas in less than a year. Along the way, he also impressed a Manchester United fan—Usain Bolt—but for very different reasons.
The Laureus Awards ceremony took place in Madrid earlier this year, where Bellingham, Bolt, and some of the greatest sportspersons in the world were in attendance.
On the red carpet, a reporter asked Bolt about Bellingham’s debut season in Madrid, to which the legendary sprinter said, “As a Manchester United fan, I just told Jude, very good work in the Champions League, we didn’t want to see another City treble.”
🗣️ Usain Bolt: “As a Manchester United fan, I just told Jude, very good work in the Champions League, we didn’t want to see another City treble.” 😂
by inrealmadrid
Real Madrid met Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the 2023/24 UCL and edged past the Cityzens on penalties. As he did in most of Madrid’s games that season, Bellingham played a crucial role in securing the victory, even scoring in the shootout.
It ended Manchester City’s hopes of achieving back-to-back trebles, and for Manchester United fans—who have spent years in the shadow of their neighbors—it was a welcome sight, though not the most ideal situation to celebrate.
Bolt—who holds the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds—celebrated nonetheless. The two even performed Bellingham’s iconic celebration together before the award ceremony that afternoon.
Usain Bolt is a die-hard Manchester United fan and remains loyal to the Red Devils, even through the team’s recent difficult times. Despite the ups and downs, Bolt’s passion for United has never wavered.
During his sprinting days, Bolt would often follow and attend United’s matches, labeling playing at Old Trafford as a dream. He got to fulfill that dream a few times, participating in charity matches at the iconic Theatre of Dreams.
Bolt also maintains close connections with several Manchester United players, engaging in regular banter with them. One memorable moment came when Marcus Rashford claimed he could beat Bolt in a sprint.
Surprisingly, Bolt agreed—but only up to 20 yards. As quoted by SportBible, Bolt humorously remarked, “He has that burst of speed, but after that, I told him, you could probably get me in 20 yards. But after that, it’s over!”
