A Real family affair! Madrid 'send scouts to watch Bellingham's brother, Jobe'

Real Madrid sent scouts to watch Jobe Bellingham - Jude's little brother - play for the England under-19s in the international break, according to a Spanish report.

The Spanish giants paid out £113m to sign Jude from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, and the 20-year-old has proven himself with ten goals in his first ten games for the club.

Now Los Blancos President Florentino Perez is thought to be keen on a deal for Jobe Bellingham, who completed his own move from Birmingham City to rival Championship side Sunderland before the season began.

El Nacional report that Perez asked chief scout Juni Calafat to send some of his staff to watch 18-year-old Jobe play for England at the under-19s level during the international break against Montenegro.

As Mail Sport reported, Jobe's performance in the game was hailed by fans, despite the match remaining goalless. Jude replicated his brother's movements, albeit unable to get on the scoresheet as Jude regularly does on club level.

One X (fka Twitter) user wrote: 'Jude & Jobe’s parents have given the English game two elite talents. When this pair win us a World Cup, Mark & Denise should be on the open top bus tour with the squad.'

'Scrolled past this several times today, just assumed it was archive footage of Jude,' said another. 'Actually mad how similar they are and how arguably one of the best midfielders in the world plays championship football for Sunderland.'

Jobe Bellingham has played 12 matches for the Black Cats so far, getting on the scoresheet twice. It also saw him get his first call-up to England's under-19s in September.

If the young player continues to show promise, he will be an attractive option for many of the world's leading clubs, but Real would be able to utilise the family relationship as an advantage in negotiations.

Jude Bellingham is under contract to Real Madrid until 2029, offering a potential long-term link-up at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid return from the international break with a trip to Sevilla on Saturday, on the same day that Sunderland face their own away day at Stoke City.