I signed Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid and I think Jude Bellingham will make history

The man who signed Cristiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid thinks Jude Bellingham will make history with the club.

Ramon Calderon spoke to talkSPORT about the English midfielder following the Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich.

Admittedly, it was not Bellingham’s finest game and he was substituted after 60 minutes in the 2-2 draw.

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti later confirmed that the 20-year-old had cramp. After all, it has been a long, but spectacular, debut season for him.

Bellingham has the potential to do great things at the Spanish giants and the praise for him has been effusive.

Former Real Madrid star Steve McManaman even said that he has had more impact coming into that dressing room than three Galaticos of his era.

“Luis Figo came into the dressing room,” McManaman said on TNT Sports.

“R9 [Ronaldo Nazario], ‘El Phenomeno’ came into the dressing room. Zizou [Zinedine Zidane] came into the dressing room.

“Nobody has had an impact like he has [Bellingham] and he’s done it at the age of 20 years old. It’s phenomenal.”

In his first season at the club, Bellingham is on the brink of helping them win LaLiga and are just 90 minutes away from a Champions League final.

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Calderon is a man who knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a Real Madrid great.

Calderon was president of Los Blancos from 2006 until 2009, having previously served as a director from 2001.

His finest hour was getting Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the all-time greats of the game, to the club in 2009.

And Calderon thinks that Bellingham can make history.

He told talkSPORT: “He’s playing so well. He’s only 20 years old and came this season. The way he is playing is above expectations.

“I think everyone is surprised about the work he is doing. We knew he was a very good player, but what he is doing here in Spain and with Real Madrid is amazing.

“I think he can be one of those players who can make history with Real Madrid.”

Making history at Real Madrid usually means trophies and they can win their 15th Champions League this season.

Standing in their way is Bayern Munich, but they have the second leg at the Bernabeu next Wednesday.

After that, Paris Saint-Germain or Borussia Dortmund could await at Wembley on June 1.