The mixed zone at the Power Horse Stadium in Almeria on Saturday night could have been the finest place to assess Jude Bellingham’s influence on La Liga and the broader Spanish society.

After the English midfielder scored two more goals to help Real Madrid win their second La Liga game of the season 3-1, the Real players left the away dressing room and headed toward the team bus.

A few neighborhood police officers were waiting there. Bellingham caught their attention, but it became evident right once that they weren’t there for business. When the 20-year-old came out of the stadium, one of them was already holding his phone in his hand, which was a clue, and he was in the ideal position to take a quick picture.

The other officer tried to stop him by shouting, “Bellingham, a photo, Bellingham, a photo,” but Madrid’s star summer acquisition didn’t appear surprised. Later that evening, several local police officers approached him and requested photos and a second of his time. Each time, the Englishman complied.

Real Madrid’s major summer acquisition has advanced at a record rate, becoming not only one of the team’s leaders but also a valuable source of inspiration for the Madridistas.

“Bellingham understands the codes very well, which has contributed to his success in recent months on an organic level, on social networks, and on Real Madrid Play (the club’s new internal video platform). And he’s not only improving because he’s at Madrid; Madrid is also improving because he’s at Real Madrid, according to a club source who asked to remain unnamed in order to preserve working ties.

He is a very lovely person. Nicely done. He is a young man who easily adjusts to new platforms and the media. He’s also accustomed to conversing as a proficient English speaker.

Since joining Real Madrid two months ago, his Instagram following has increased by more than four million, from 11.3 million to 15.4 million, thanks to his personality and skill with the ball.

As a result, many Americans didn’t hesitate to arrive at the stadium wearing Madrid shirts with the words “Bellingham 5” on the back, despite their distance from and cultural differences from the player’s native Birmingham. The nearby city fair was also featuring Bellingham, who was represented by scarves and t-shirts with his image.

Even before the game began, he appeared to be everywhere. The midfielder was one of the players who received the most cheers from the crowd when he finally entered the field. Even though Bellingham had just destroyed the home team with two goals—one in each half—and had celebrated the first of them by touching his ear and looking at the opposing crowd in the manner of Erling Haaland, it was more of the same when he was replaced on 81 minutes. Bellingham received more cheers than whistles.

Nevertheless, the crowd was not outraged by his celebration, and after the final horn, he spoke with spectators gathered in the stadium’s rear.