Jude Bellingham's passport ploy: A deep dive into the LaLiga loophole

How the English midfielder's Irish roots could land him at Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham, the highly-rated English midfielder, has reportedly applied for an Irish passport in order to exploit a loophole in LaLiga regulations and secure a move to Real Madrid.

Under current rules, non-EU players are subject to a limit of three per squad in LaLiga. However, players with Irish passports are considered EU citizens, meaning they would not count towards this quota.

Bellingham, who is eligible for an Irish passport through his grandparents, could therefore join Real Madrid without the club having to offload any of their current non-EU players.

The benefits for Bellingham and Real Madrid

For Bellingham, a move to Real Madrid would represent a major step up in his career. The Spanish giants are one of the most successful clubs in the world, and they offer him the chance to compete for major trophies and play alongside some of the best players in the world.

For Real Madrid, signing Bellingham would be a major coup. The 19-year-old is one of the most promising young midfielders in Europe, and he has the potential to become one of the best players in the world.

The potential pitfalls

However, there are also some potential pitfalls to Bellingham's plan. Firstly, there is no guarantee that he will be granted an Irish passport. The Irish government has strict rules on who is eligible for citizenship, and Bellingham may not meet all of the criteria.

Secondly, even if Bellingham is granted an Irish passport, there is no guarantee that Real Madrid will sign him. The Spanish giants have a number of other targets in midfield, and they may not be willing to pay the high transfer fee that Borussia Dortmund are likely to demand.

Conclusion

Whether or not Bellingham's plan to move to Real Madrid is successful remains to be seen. However, it is a clever ploy that could potentially allow him to join one of the biggest clubs in the world.