Gareth Bale expects Jude Bellingham to make his Real Madrid debut with a comfortable win in the Champions League final.
The Welshman helped Madrid win five of their record 14 continental titles during his nine years at the Santiago Bernabeu after signing from Tottenham.
He is expecting the 15thth The title will arrive at Wembley on Saturday night when the La Liga winners take on outsiders Borussia Dortmund.
How and where to watch the 2024 Champions League final
The win would be Madrid's sixth in 11 seasons and it is that experience which Bale believes will prove the difference for the side who are playing in their third final, and first since 2013.
“Obviously I think Real Madrid will win, and probably comfortably,” Bale told Sky Sports. “Having the experience of being there many times, having the experience in a group of old and young players – they are a complete group and it is difficult to break them down.
“Football has funny things that happen so you can't say never, but I believe Real Madrid will come out on top.”
Bale and Steve McManaman are the only Brits to have lifted the trophy more than once with overseas sides, both with Madrid, and Bale expects 20-year-old England star Bellingham to join their exclusive club.
He said: “Jude had a great season. A good setup in a club where they make you feel settled very quickly.
“He's had a great season and I'm sure he'll want to finish it off with a win on Saturday.”
Bale spent eight years with German midfielder Toni Kroos, making just under 200 appearances for the same Los Blancos team.
Kroos will play his last game for the club before retiring and is hoping to match Bale by adding a fifth Champions League trophy to his impressive record.
Bale said: “Toni is an amazing person first. A great player, obviously, what he has achieved in his career speaks for itself.
“Personally, I would like to see him win the Champions League – he deserves to have a final game where he does that. I hope he can do that.”
Mine #UCLFINAL Prediction 👀
What do you think? @PlayStation #Advertisement pic.twitter.com/ALrmhSeAY7
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) May 31, 2024
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