How Real Madrid will line up with Jude Bellingham

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 14 Jun 2023 12:03 BST
• 3 min read

Real Madrid have confirmed the sensation transfer for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham.

Los Blancos beat the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea to the player.

A transfer fee of €134 million has been agreed upon with both parties and now the teenage sensation is a Real player.

MORE: Real Madrid's 10 most expensive transfers of all time

But how will Real Madrid line up with Bellingham?

Of course, the coach will be pivotal to this. Despite pressure to take the Brazil job, which had led to speculation that he might leave the Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti looks likely to be the man in charge at Real Madrid next season.

This means that he will likely be seeking a way for Bellingham to slot into the 4-3-3 formation that he prefers.

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How Bellingham fits in at Real Madrid

Typically, the England international plays on the right side of a central three but has the advantage of being able to play as a No.6, 8 or 10. This makes him tremendously versatile, particularly as he is almost equally effective in all of these roles.

As an orthodox central midfielder, he matches the profile of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Fede Valverde, according to the analysis of experts SciSports but equally as a more defensive player his style matches that of Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.

So where does this leave him in Ancelotti’s thinking?

With Valverde increasingly being used on the right wing, it probably means that Bellingham is being slated for a position on the right side of the midfield, where he can operate in his favoured all-action role as a No.8.

Camavinga, meanwhile, may be used at left-back given that Ferland Mendy is on his way out of the club.

The Real Madrid boss is likely to use his versatility to swap in for Modric and Kroos at times next term, allowing the two veterans to stay fresh for key moments.

Wherever he is used, Bellingham is bound to have a big role to play.