• England star started out at at St Andrew's
• American football icon now involved with Blues
• Took in Spanish trip to watch dramatic contest

WHAT HAPPENED?

Bellingham, who came through the academy ranks at St Andrew’s to make his senior debut at just 16 years of age, has become a global superstar since leaving a West Midlands comfort zone. He has become a talismanic presence for Real and England, with Brady on hand on witness his latest moment of magic as a dramatic winner was recorded in a thrilling Clasico clash with Barcelona.

WHAT BRADY SAID

Brady, who is now an investor and chairman of the advisory board at Birmingham, has told ESPN of mingling with Bellingham during a visit to Santiago Bernabeu: “When he actually transferred from Dortmund to Real Madrid, we struck up a conversation. I was really impressed by his maturity and how talented he is, although of course everyone can see that. He's got a great future because of what's in his brain and what he's really focused on.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Brady is not the only sporting great to have been singing Bellingham’s praises, with record-breaking tennis star Novak Djokovic – who has more Grand Slam titles to his name that anybody else in the history of the men’s game – saying at the Laureus World Sports Awards: “What I was impressed with is that he was always trying to make these runs, and he was not getting the right balls, and he was getting a little bit frustrated, but then he was waiting for the right opportunity. He was serious, professional, dedicated, patient and believed that the chance will come. It came in the right moment and he decided the game. He's only 20, so that's a feature or characteristic of a great champion.”

WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM?

Bellingham, with 21 goals recorded through all competitions this season, is hoping to get his hands on La Liga and Champions League honours with Real before forming part of England’s quest to savour European Championship glory on German soil this summer.