Jude Bellingham paid stylish homage to his Birmingham roots on Monday as he stepped off a plane at Gatwick Airport dressed like a character straight out of Peaky Blinders.
The Real Madrid midfielder, born and raised in Stourbridge on the outskirts of Birmingham, turned heads in a sleek black ensemble and a classic flat cap — a nod to the iconic BBC gangster series based in his hometown.
Tommy Shelby, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, might still be Birmingham’s most iconic fictional figure, but Bellingham gave the Peaky Blinders lead some serious real-life competition.
With a sharp gaze, a long tailored coat, and the signature cap, the 21-year-old bore an uncanny resemblance to a modern-day Shelby as he arrived in the capital alongside his Real Madrid teammates for Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal.
The Spanish giants touched down in London on Monday afternoon and made their way straight to their hotel, where final preparations for the clash at the Emirates are underway.
And while Bellingham’s throwback outfit captured attention online, the focus is quickly turning to business. The former Birmingham City prodigy is set to start on Tuesday in what will be his first-ever appearance against the Gunners.
Jude Bellingham (left) touched down in the capital on Monday alongside his Real Madrid squad.
Bellingham is already a modern Birmingham icon, and his outfit echoed the city’s most famous fictional one.
His cap and serious expression brought strong Tommy Shelby energy to Real Madrid’s arrival.
Since moving to Madrid last summer, Bellingham has made a massive impact, scoring 36 goals in his first 84 appearances — an extraordinary tally for a midfielder. He’s expected to be central once again in Carlo Ancelotti’s game plan.
Ancelotti, who boasts a strong managerial record against Arsenal — seven wins from 13 encounters — faces the trip to north London with a depleted squad due to a string of injuries.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, sidelined recently with a knee injury, has travelled with the team and could make his return in Tuesday’s fixture.
Teenage third-choice keeper Fran Gonzalez was between the sticks during Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Valencia at the weekend and failed to register a single save, as the LaLiga title race tightened.
Madrid will also be without Aurelien Tchouameni, who is suspended, and the likes of Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, and ex-Arsenal loanee Dani Ceballos are all unavailable through injury.
Veteran playmaker Luka Modric may return to the starting lineup, while attackers Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr are expected to start up front. The duo have a combined 53 goals this season and will present a serious challenge to Arsenal’s back four.
Madrid will be looking to Bellingham to help finally break their winless streak against the North London club.
In official competition, Real Madrid have never beaten Arsenal. Their last and only meeting came in the Champions League round of 16 back in 2006, when Arsenal edged them out 1-0 on aggregate.
Thierry Henry scored the famous winner at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the Gunners held firm with a 0-0 draw in the second leg at Highbury to advance.
The teams have played friendlies since then, most recently a 2019 encounter won by Madrid on penalties, but Arsenal still hold the edge in official fixtures.
Whoever comes out on top this time will meet either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa in the semi-finals.
Both potential matchups offer compelling narratives — Mbappe possibly facing his former club PSG, or Bellingham making a return to Birmingham should Villa advance.