Old friends now foes as Real Madrid battle Borussia Dortmund in Champions League final

Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho will battle for Champions League glory, but it’s been a shared journey to football’s biggest club stage.

Rob Forsaith

2 min read

June 1, 2024 - 6:00AM

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 14: Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid runs with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Deportivo Alaves at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 14, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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Wembley is the field of dreams for every English footballer.

But even the most imaginative child would struggle to confect a scene at the home of football in which the world is watching as they spearhead a high-stakes showdown between German and Spanish powerhouses.

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham and Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho will take centre stage in the Champions League final on Sunday morning (5am AEST).

“When we first got through (to the final), I got a little message from Jadon,” Bellingham said.

“He said, ‘See you there’.

“Jadon has been someone who has taken me under his wing when I first arrived at Dortmund. He’s a really good guy and someone I’ve got a lot of time for.”

Jude Bellingham was named La Liga’s player of the season. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

The duo represented England throughout underage level. Bellingham and Sancho were briefly teammates at Dortmund, yet their paths to this contest could hardly be more different.

Bellingham is seeking to end his first season in Spain on an almighty high, having already been voted La Liga’s player of the season after helping Real win its 36th Spanish league title.

The 20-year-old cut his teeth at Birmingham City, enjoyed some productive teenage years at Dortmund then signed a six-year deal with Real after the clubs agreed on a $168m transfer.

Bellingham is already a veritable superstar, having scored for England at a World Cup.

Sancho’s influence on Dortmund and recent form, especially in the Champions League, has been arguably more eye catching.

Jadon Sancho has been in impressive form as of late. Picture: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

But the winger hasn’t played for England since 2021, the same year he signed a five-year deal with Manchester United after emerging as a future star on Dortmund’s books.

Sancho has looked like a different player since being loaned back to the German outfit in January, when his frosty relationship with Erik ten Hag reached breaking point.

It means the future of Sancho and under-pressure manager ten Hag are among the numerous subplots swirling about as London prepares to host club football’s pinnacle.

“I am happy to be playing football again with a smile,” Sancho said this week.

“I feel pretty amazing. It hasn’t really hit me yet that I’m in the final, but I’m sure it will. I’m just delighted.”