Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has received a salary increase worth around £4million a year in a move that makes him the joint-highest paid star in the club's history - level with superstar forward Kylian Mbappe.
The England midfielder has been a sensation for Madrid in the last year, scoring 23 goals in all competitions for Carlo Ancelotti's side and being influential in the team winning both La Liga and the Champions League.
Having signed Bellingham for around £88.5m from Borussia Dortmund last summer when he was regarded as one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the world, Madrid have now decided to reward Bellingham by boosting his pay package - according to The Sun - having also done the same with Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr.
The pair - who were previously on around £8.4m a year - are now all on the same salary of £12.5m a year as Mbappe, the report says, with club reportedly fearing that there could be friction between the three players if they were not all equals.
The report claims the trio are earning the same money that was raked in by former high-earning players Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard.
Bellingham has only played three times in all competitions for Madrid this season after picking up a muscle injury in training last month - though he made a quicker return than expected after starting for the team in their 3-1 win over Stuttgart in the Champions League this week.
He'll now be hoping for another successful season at the Bernabeu in an impressive looking attack alongside Vinicius and Mbappe - as well as Rodrygo. The team are being tipped to win a host of honours this term with the group of superstars in their line-up.
While Mbappe went three La Liga games before scoring his first goal - he is now up and running with five in all competitions, while Vinicius has netted two so far. The team are currently third in the table with three wins and two draws - as rivals Barcelona lead the standings after five wins from five.
With the trio all impressing and also being nominated for the Ballon d'Or, manager Ancelotti admitted there could be "jealousy" from team-mate Rodrygo.
He said: "Of course, if it happens [jealousy], I'll detect it, but right now I don't think so. There's a very good and healthy atmosphere in the dressing room.
"For him, it is a motivation to compare himself with these players [Vinicius, Mbappé, Bellingham]. For me, he is as important as the others. He doesn't tell me that he has a problem, he has never talked to me about this."
FavTuse
0
He deserves it, he worked for it. Congratulations Jude👐🏼 more to come; keep shining King 👑
JeezywayTerence
0
That is fair, but Rodrigo need morre respect and acknowledgement. he is a fantastic player
Klassik102
0
This news shouldn’t be about just Jude cuz it’s both Vini and Jude… but I understand Jude is from England while the black boy is a common Brazilian boy📰💔
hebacrtuz
2
Well play
dakabenptz
4
they should be worried about Rodrigo please. he deserves better
putimopruy
2
Psg had Mbappe, Naymer and Messi but never came closer to winning ucl because psg allowed Mbappe to run the show, Mbappe dictated what happened in the team but Madrid as we can see so far will never have such shit from anyone. But the truth is that, Mbappe is the one that need Madrid, Madrid only need Mbappe to commercial purposes, and that's the truth. Madrid won 2 ucl after Cristiano left but Cristiano never come close to winning ucl since he left Madrid he even dropped to Europa. So how much more Mbappe has not won Balloondor or golden shoes or ucl!
Tucbkmrst
1
There is every reason for Rodrygo to be jealous ,pliz Rod come to Chelsea