MADRID, OCT 21 – Jude Bellingham’s debut season at Real Madrid was filled with goals and ended with a dream double, but his second season feels like it hasn’t even started yet.
The England international faces his former club Borussia Dortmund early this Wednesday morning at the Santiago Bernabeu in a rematch of last season’s Champions League final, which Bellingham and Los Blancos won for a record 15th time.
The 21-year-old is beginning to show signs of frustration in his second year at Madrid, tasked with more defensive responsibility in midfield than last season following the arrival of French star Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti deployed Bellingham at right-centre in the recent 2-1 La Liga win at Celta Vigo, another new role for the €103m player.
Bellingham started last season as a mainstay in Madrid’s attacking midfield, scoring 10 goals in his first 10 games in La Liga and the Champions League.
Entrusted to fill that spot following the departure of Karim Benzema while Madrid were still waiting for Mbappe to arrive from Paris Saint-German, Bellingham impressed. – AFP
