‘One day’ - Jude Bellingham tips brother Jobe to play in Champions League after Birmingham City breakthrough

Birmingham City youngster Jobe Bellingham has been tipped by his brother and former Blues star Jude to play in the Champions League one day. Jude, currently at German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, has spoken very highly of his younger sibling and believes he can make it to Europe’s biggest competition.

Speaking to UEFA.com ahead of Dortmund’s clash with Manchester City, Jude revealed how the pair, as children, would often pretend they were playing in the Champions League. “We had a patch of grass outside the house that we’d always go and play on,” Jude said.

“We’d be out there from the morning until night, especially in the summer, when we didn’t have school, and they would always end with us two as best mates or the worst enemies ever, really. The amount of times we came in with tears streaming down our faces was countless.

“Every game we played, we always said it was the Champions League final. We’d make up teams and make up stadiums that we’d play in. We must have played about 1,000 Champions League finals on that little patch of grass. So that was always the goal: to play at the highest level in the Champions League. I’m doing it, and I’m sure Jobe is going to get the chance to one day.”

Last season, Jobe became City’s second-youngest debutant as a second-half substitute in the Blues’ 1-0 home defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup third round. Aged just 16, he then went on to make his first Championship appearance a week later - in a 1-1 draw at Preston North End.

So far this campaign, Jobe has managed to improve his game time under manager John Eustace, stringing together nine league appearances. The 17-year-old has shown great improvement and is portraying real potential - just months after he was handed his first professional contract.

He will likely be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, however, Jude’s own breakthrough at St. Andrew’s was far from straightforward. As revealed to UEFA.com, Jude said: “I was a little bit off it physically. I was always in meetings where people were telling me how good I was, to be honest, and I never really wanted to believe it.

“I was always really harsh on myself, and I think that’s probably why people had to try to keep me positive. I remember my league debut, the day before I was like… I’d done well in the training session and got in the squad, but you’re still not really expecting to play.

“I’ll never forget Jefferson Montero pulled his hamstring or quad, and then he was like: "Are you ready?" And I was like: "Well, I’m going to have to be, aren’t I?" I scored and kind of carried on my momentum in the team until now.”

Jude, who has scored four goals in four Champions League matches this season,  takes on Manchester City on Tuesday, October 25. Meanwhile, Jobe’s next appearance for Birmingham City could be against Queens Park Rangers on Friday, October 28.