Jude Bellingham: One of the world’s famous football stars has decided to make his presence felt in cricket as well. Actually, England’s famous footballer Jude Bellingham has entered the world of cricket and invested in England’s franchise Birmingham Phoenix.
According to the report of ESPNCricinfo, Real Madrid’s star midfielder Bellingham has bought 1.2 percent stake in this team, the price of which is said to be around 10 lakh pounds i.e. around Rs 12 crore. He has made this investment in his home city club, with which he already has an association. American investment firm Knighthead Capital already owns a 49% stake in the franchise, while host county Warwickshire now owns a 50.4% stake. There has been little change in the share structure after Bellingham’s investment.
Has a deep connection with cricket
Bellingham’s connection to Birmingham runs deep. He started his career with Birmingham City’s academy and created history by debuting for the senior team at the age of just 16. He then joined Borussia Dortmund and then Real Madrid in 2023. Very few people know that Bellingham is also a big fan of cricket. He also played junior cricket for Hagley Cricket Club as a teenager. In a recent interview, he had said that if he got a chance to change roles for a day with a player from another game, he would choose Ben Stokes. Warwickshire declined to comment on the matter at this time, but are expected to confirm Bellingham’s investment on April 22.
Jacob Bethel will take over the captaincy
It is noteworthy that Birmingham Phoenix has so far not been successful in winning the title in both men’s and women’s categories in The Hundred tournament. Last season also the team could not make it to the playoffs. This year, the men’s team will be captained by Jacob Bethel, while the women’s team will be commanded by Elise Perry. It is expected that the official announcement of this investment will be made soon. Bellingham’s entry is likely to give a new identity and strength to the franchise.
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