His Majesty Jude Bellingham is already King of the Bernabeu
Stuart Hodge
- 5 Nov 2023 22:08 GMT
- 4 min read
Seldom in Real Madrid’s storied history has someone walked in and assumed command in the way that Jude Bellingham already managed to do.
“Ya es el rey,” says a fan at the stunningly refurbished Bernabeu as the 20-year-old Englishman was awarded La Liga's Player of the Month award at the start of the game - meaning, “he is already the king of the team”. It's quite the statement mere weeks into his career and given the regal nod in the club’s name.
But it’s absolutely true.
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All four corners of the stadium rapturously applauded as the confident but likable and un-cocky young superstar held his trophy aloft and turned to each corner of the ground briefly before getting on with the business of the game itself.
True majesty of Bellingham
The real ones turn the sport into art but despite his blistering start with 13 goals and three assists in 14 games in all competitions, the elegant majesty of his game is only apparent when watching the 20-year-old Englishman in the flesh.
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In Real Madrid’s 0-0 draw with Rayo, this observer could not help but take my eyes off of Madrid’s midfield colossus.
The team’s entire diamond system appears to be designed to get the best out of Bellingham and, arguably the best midfielder of his generation, Luka Modric.
It provides Bellingham the platform to showcase everything that comes so effortlessly to him. His stunning poise is coupled with great athleticism and robustness, and a body that looks like it was built in a lab.
Despite his tender years, he’s played a lot of football after breaking into Birmingham City’s team at 16 and then starring for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga - and it shows.
Bellingham moves around the pitch with a combination of economised movement and intelligent deviations to create space for himself and team-mates. He knows when to be patient and he knows when to force the play. He has fantastic close control and positions his body in a way that protects possession and allows him to quickly move it on and he has great awareness to always pick the right pass.
And in a team also containing the talents of Fede Valverde and Vinicius Junior, it’s Bellingham who has the fans on the edge of their seat when he gets the ball.
As frustration built in the second half, Modric who was sacrificed for Rodrygo and, although age could be a factor here, it says everything that the Croatian’s role has been reduced to that of the Bernabeu’s Prince Regent in the presence of the newly-crowned hero at the home of European football’s most successful club.
Long live the King
In the end, Real Madrid weren’t able to find the winner in the local derby (the less ferocious one) despite Bellingham fashioning a couple of opportunities for team-mates, with Valverde and journeyman striker Joselu guiltly of poor misses.
But the moment that proved just how these fans already revere the Stourbridge sensation actually came in the first half when he went down awkwardly after cheating a ball to ensure it remained under control.
He remained down for a while and a fairly fervent atmosphere immediately became muted and apprehensive. As the medical personnel appeared with a stretcher fans around the stadium collectively feared the worst.
But Bellingham, who doesn’t have the same propensity to remain prone on the deck as many of his counterparts in Spanish football, got back up and dusted himself down.
The guttural roars as he did so to walk over to the sideline and then the din as he raced back onto the field to continue the game said everything.
Real Madrid is his team, the Bernabeu his palace, and all those who regularly attend there: his loyal subjects.
