According to Jude Bellingham, he chose the number five jersey when he joined Real Madrid since Zinedine Zidane is an inspiration to him.
The England midfielder signed a six-year contract with Real on Thursday afternoon to complete his initial 103 million euro (£88.5 million) transfer from Borussia Dortmund.
After receiving the number five shirt at the Bernabeu, Bellingham addressed the media, calling it the "proudest day" of his life.
He then gave an explanation of why he asked Jesus Vallejo to give up the number for him, citing Zidane, who won 16 major awards while managing and playing for Real.
"I really admire Zidane and the legacy he has at this club with the number five," Bellingham stated.
"It's a number that motivates me."
Bellingham's childhood team Birmingham unexpectedly decided to retire his number 22 shirt at St. Andrews after his transfer to Dortmund.
In 132 appearances he went on to score 24 goals, winning the DFB Pokal in 2021.
Though he had previously been heavily connected with a return to England at either Manchester City or Liverpool, he now believes he has joined the best club in the world and claims that money had nothing to do with his choice.
In his final season with Dortmund, Bellingham received the Bundesliga Player of the Year award.
Few players get the chance to represent such a fantastic and illustrious club as Real Madrid, the greatest club in history. I'm very appreciative of the people that brought me here, he continued.
"When I make judgments like this, money is not a factor. I don't care about it.
"I enjoy the atmosphere at Real Madrid and the way I feel about the team because it's the sport I love.
"Real Madrid is the best club in the world to me, therefore I wanted everything to go smoothly. Real Madrid is the best team, but it doesn't imply the other teams are awful.
Bellingham started working in Birmingham.
At the unveiling, Perez said, "He chose to join Real Madrid, the most respected team in the world.
"For this reason, Jude Bellingham is being welcomed today at Real Madrid. We want to thank you for giving everything you had to be here on this day, the day you've been waiting for.
"We appreciate your ambition. Real Madrid is the most admired club, and starting today, you will experience all of its core characteristics.
"I'm sure that seeing Real Madrid win five Champions Leagues in the past nine years made you fall in love; there were some great moments...Jude, the Santiago Bernabeu stadium is expecting you.
"You'll sense this club's history, and all the Madristas will be gathered around this sense that we will"
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