Bellingham recalls Mourinho’s lesson about his socks

“You’re nine years old, you haven’t got calves”: Jude Bellingham recounts José Mourinho’s remark in an interview for British Vogue. The Real Madrid midfielder also discusses life in Madrid, his relationship with football and a period of strain that took a toll on him.

Bellingham says a recent conversation with Mourinho, his coach at Real Madrid, stayed with him. The story goes back to Mourinho’s time in charge of Roma. At a training session, a child had cut three holes in the backs of his socks. Mourinho asked why. The boy replied that he was copying Bellingham, whose habit was supposed to ease pressure on his calves. The Portuguese coach’s response — “You’re nine years old. You haven’t got calves” — stuck with the player.

Mourinho also offered his assessment of the Englishman: “There is no midfielder in the world like Bellingham; he is unique.” Asked what he likes most about the city where he lives, Bellingham gives a straightforward answer: “Playing for Real Madrid.” He says he enjoys Madrid and its “many colours”, and even finds a particular elegance in the rain there.

Public life brings its own constraints. When he wants a coffee, he often looks for places on the outskirts, where he feels less exposed to attention. Even so, he says he tries to make time for supporters, especially children: a photo with them can make them happy “for a good while”, while taking only a few seconds.

Settling in Madrid also meant making an effort with the language. After arriving in 2023, he took Spanish lessons for five months, determined to move beyond simply saying “hola” and “gracias”. Progress, he explains, requires the confidence to speak: mistakes are inevitable, but what matters is being understood.

Bellingham also reflects on the World Cup with England, which he describes as “probably the best experience of my life, full stop”. He remembers the football, but also the England supporters who travelled to the United States and sang “Wonderwall”. He scored both of his side’s goals against Norway in the quarter-finals. During the tournament, he says, he consciously chose to enjoy an experience that does not come around often.

That openness sits alongside his admission about the previous season: “At times last season, I felt it was consuming me and making me really tense and stressed.” He then started talking to someone who helped him manage those difficulties. The player says switching off from football remains hard, particularly after a run of four matches in 14 days.

He also recalls support from David Beckham during Euro 2024, when England’s early performances were criticised and rumours emerged about the dressing room. Beckham’s words carried extra weight, Bellingham says, because they came from someone “who knows what it’s about”. In Vogue, he sums up his approach to public attention: “Off the pitch, I want to be a gentleman.”