Real Madrid vs Man City: Jude Bellingham rise is no surprise to Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Jude Bellingham caught Carlo Ancelotti and Antonio Rudiger by surprise on his Real Madrid arrival, but Pep Guardiola had long since been convinced by his quality.

The England international has shot to superstardom in his maiden season at Madrid and tonight will be key to their chances of getting Champions League revenge against Manchester City after their 4-0 hammering in the semi-finals at the Etihad last season.

Bellingham has 20 goals and 10 assists this season, and Guardiola has not been shocked in the slightest by his impact.

The City manager said: "He played when he was 17 with Borussia Dortmund and I said with not just his skills, but the difference is what he has in his brain and his mind.

Jude Bellingham has quickly established himself as one of the world’s best

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"He came to this club with exceptional players and an exceptional manager like Carlo, who has the incredible ability to know the best position, and Carlo found it, so he clicked quick.

"He's had an incredible season in terms of goals, assists, his presence in the box. Not just Madrid, but with England he has been brilliant. He has a long career ahead."

Bellingham has needed no time to justify the £88million transfer fee paid to Dortmund last summer.

"He's really professional, really serious and really humble," said Madrid manager Ancelotti. "We were not surprised about him as a player, but as a person, we were surprised in that sense. For the age he is really, really mature."

No-nonsense former Chelsea defender Rudiger has run dressing rooms all over the world, and quickly recognised the real deal when confronted with Bellingham in Madrid.

"At the beginning I was a bit surprised, I didn't know much about him, to be honest," said Rudiger. "But wow! He's a big personality in our locker room, and that's massive. The way he handles himself is very good.

"He's only 20, but if you talk to him you feel like this guy has already seen everything in life. He's very mature, so I'm not surprised anymore."

City will continue their Champions League title defence in tonight's quarter-final first leg without injured duo Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake. Another defender, Josko Gvardiol, faces a late fitness check.

The Premier League side beat Madrid 5-1 on aggregate last season, but Guardiola is convinced there will be no repeat humbling this time, although he did concede that last year's Champions League breakthrough still boosts his side.

Midfielder Rodri believes City's Champions League title gives them greater "composure and serenity", and Guardiola was inclined to agree.

"The first thing I would say as a club was a sense of relief," said Guardiola, explaining the impact of City finally winning Europe's top prize. But it's not like elite clubs like Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Inter and Milan for example, big clubs that do it for 50, 60, 70 years playing this competition.