Superstar Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid has flown to Sunderland to watch his younger brother Jobe play during his team’s break.
In the stands at the Stadium of Light, Bellingham was snapped before Sunderland’s match against Coventry City. The 20-year-old went there to watch his brother Jobe play midfield for the Black Cats. Jobe, Jude’s junior by two years, was chosen to start Michael Beale’s debut as manager. Regretfully for Bellingham and Beale, Sunderland ultimately suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Coventry.
Jobe’s Sunderland is back in the running to make the Championship play-offs after suffering heartbreak in the play-offs the previous year. On December 18, Beale was appointed the club’s and Jobe’s new manager with the intention of leading a youthful team back to the Premier League, following the unexpected firing of Tony Mowbray and his connections with Will Still. Jobe has scored four goals for the Black Cats this season, putting him on the radar of Premier League teams.
Though the names on the backs of their shirts are different, the Bellingham brothers have frequently shown support for one another. To keep their jobs apart, Jobe has chosen to put his first name—rather than Bellingham, as Jude does—on the back of his shirt.
Sunderland, led by Jobe, will persist in their pursuit of promotion to the Premier League, most likely through the play-offs, and they will rely on their 18-year-old player for motivation. Jude, meanwhile, makes his Real Madrid comeback in the new year on January 3 against Mallorca.