'Fully deserves it' - 2016 Birmingham City Young POTY Solomon-Otabor hails Kopa Trophy winner Bellingham

Birmingham City's Young Player of the Season for the 2015-2016 campaign, Viv Solomon-Otabor has praised Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham for winning the Kopa Trophy.

Bellingham is arguably the best player in the world at the moment taking into account his form for Real Madrid, but settled for eighteenth place in the 2023 Men's Ballon d'Or. 

At the 2023 Ballon d'Or gala, the England midfielder received the Kopa Trophy - an award presented to the best performing player worldwide under the age of 21. 

The 10-man shortlist for the Kopa Trophy included Bellingham, Jamal Musiala, Pedri, Eduardo Camavinga, Gavi, Xavi Simons, Alejandro Balde, António Silva, Rasmus Højlund and Elye Wahi.

 Bellingham's stock has risen massively after a sensational start to his career at Los Blancos, scoring 13 goals in 13 outings from his midfield position and has three assists to his name. 

Solomon-Otabor highlighted that he knew Jude Bellingham was destined for great things while at Birmingham City. 

"Bellingham fully deserves the award, he's had a great start to the season and is destined for more greatness," Solomon-Otabor said to allnigeriasoccer.com.

"We in the first team at Birmingham City were all aware of his talent and at that time because he was so young.

"We would always be with the academy staff and they would show us his clips so I knew he was going to be special."

In his final season at St Andrew's, Bellingham emulated Solomon-Otabor by winning Birmingham City's Young Player of the Year.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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