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The Los Blancos are reported to have pulled all stops to ensure the 19-year-old signs for them ahead of a host of Premier League giants
Details have emerged how Real Madrid won the race for the signature of Jude Bellingham, considered the world best young midfielder.
Bellingham has shot to prominence after another sensational season with Borussia Dortmund, and has become one of England’s most important players, excelling at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
But now he finds himself in advanced talks with Real Madrid, as his current side look to end Bayern Munich's dominant hold on the Bundesliga title this season.
Interest from England and the Premier League was strong, with Manchester City looking likely to rival any bid after Liverpool ruled themselves out of the running for financial reasons.
Though talks between player and club have been progressing to advanced stages, an agreement between Dortmund and Los Blancos over a transfer fee is still yet to materialise.
The fee required to bring Bellingham to LaLiga is estimated to be in the region of £115million, despite the fact that the teenager only has two years left on his current contract.
Real chiefs are continuing discussions with their Dortmund counterparts over the final amount and bonuses but believe they are within reach of finalising terms.
While Dortmund will receive a huge financial boost in any deal, they are not the only beneficiaries, with boyhood club Birmingham City set to earn a 15 per cent cut of any deal.
And then come the player's hefty wages, which are reported to be around £400,000-a-week despite his relative being only 19, showing just how highly he is valued.
However, Real Madrid have been working on a deal for a long time, and these talks have come after a lengthy courtship.
Madrid's Director General Jose Angel Sanchez and chief scout Juni Calafat identified Bellingham as the club's top target at the start of the season and his performances at the World Cup only stiffened their resolve to sign him.
A meeting in Chelsea harbour between the Bellinghams and Real's influential chief scout took place in early March, which is thought to have played a role in swaying the decision in the Spanish giants' favour.
Reports at the time place the meeting as coinciding with Dortmund's trip to London to face Chelsea in the Champions League, a tie that ultimately saw the German side knocked out of the tournament.
Club legend and three-time Champions League winning coach Zinedine Zidane invited the youngster to his own box for the final of last year's European competition in Paris to offer him a glimpse of the success he might enjoy in the Spanish capital alongside one of his childhood idols.
The metaphor could surely not have materialised any better if Real had tried, as Bellingham was handed a perfect view to what he might come to expect in the iconic white shirt as Real beat transfer rivals Liverpool to lift the trophy.
The player's family played a crucial role in his move to Dortmund three years ago, and have been a key component of discussions with other clubs.
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