Jude Bellingham: Xabi Alonso Reveals Change of Plan for Real Madrid’s Returning Star

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has confirmed a significant tactical shift for returning star
Jude Bellingham,
designating his role as a primary attacking midfielder. This decision marks a departure from the
experimental approaches seen during the Club World Cup and aims to maximize the England
international’s formidable offensive capabilities.

Bellingham’s Evolving Role at Real Madrid

Since his arrival in the Spanish capital, Bellingham has demonstrated remarkable versatility,
adapting to various positions. In his debut season, the absence of a direct replacement for
Karim Benzema saw him deployed in an unusually advanced role, a move that ignited the most
prolific scoring form of his career, yielding an impressive 23 goals.

However, the subsequent arrival of Kylian Mbappé in the summer of 2024 prompted former coach
Carlo Ancelotti to shift Bellingham into a more withdrawn midfield position. This adjustment
coincided with a dip in his goal tally, which fell to 14 in his second campaign despite
playing an additional 600 minutes.

Alonso’s Vision: Attacking Midfielder

Alonso, who took the helm ahead of the Club World Cup, utilized the tournament to explore
various formations and player roles. Bellingham featured in all six matches, oscillating
between a highly offensive outlet and a more defensive presence. Now, with the new season
underway and Bellingham recovering from shoulder surgery, Alonso has clarified his definitive
plan.

“Jude’s position is as an attacking midfielder,” Alonso declared to the media over the weekend.
“He has an incredible range of movement, and the more we can find him, the better our
performance. The Club World Cup was a different experience. With him and [Eduardo] Camavinga,
we have two additional options, two top-class players.”

A Perfect Start and a Star’s Return

Real Madrid has enjoyed a flawless start to the season under Alonso, securing six wins from
six matches. Bellingham, after missing the first five fixtures due to shoulder surgery, made
his much-anticipated return as a late substitute against Espanyol on Saturday, a moment
celebrated by fans and teammates alike.

Lucas Vázquez, a recently departed Real Madrid legend, encapsulated the sentiment with a
simple yet powerful reply to Bellingham’s return post: “Star is back.”

Impact on the Squad Dynamics

Bellingham’s return, particularly in a defined attacking midfield role, will undoubtedly
influence the existing squad dynamics. Aurélien Tchouaméni has been a consistent presence,
starting all six games and solidifying his position as the central defensive anchor. Federico
Valverde, whom Alonso likens to Steven Gerrard, remains a fixture in the team sheet.

The most likely player to see reduced minutes with Bellingham’s reintegration is Arda Güler. The
talented Turkish playmaker has garnered praise from Alonso for his summer improvements, adding
physicality to his natural elegance. However, Bellingham’s unique blend of skill, vision, and
goal-scoring prowess is expected to elevate Real Madrid’s attacking threat even further.

This strategic decision by Xabi Alonso highlights a clear direction for Real Madrid, focusing
on leveraging Jude Bellingham’s attacking capabilities to sustain their impressive start to the
season and compete for top honors.