Mbappe to Real Madrid forces Bellingham into MAJOR change

Robin Bairner

16 May 2024 12:30 BST
3 min read

Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at Real Madrid will prompt a change in Jude Bellingham’s status at the Bernabeu – and it is one that will not necessarily benefit the England international midfielder.

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Bellingham, signed from Borussia Dortmund last summer for around €100 million, has been one of the stars of the season for Los Blancos as they have won LaLiga and charged to the final of the Champions League.

A total of 23 goals and 12 assists this season underline how successful the 20-year-old has been in his first season in Spain, and though the second half of the season has been slower, he remains a strong Ballon d’Or candidate.

Current ETV

Jude Bellingham

M (C), DM (RL)

Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham

M (C), DM (RL)

Real Madrid

ETV Range

€102.1M - €170.1M

Mbappe’s arrival on a free transfer from PSG this summer, though, will force Bellingham to change his role, according to a report from Marca.

“Give me players who can make the difference and I will know how to use them,” Carlo Ancelotti has said in the past.

Bellingham to change position

This season, Bellingham has thrived at the point of a midfield diamond. Next, the plan is that he will be moved back into a regular midfield role.

There is, however, confidence that Mbappe and Bellingham can both excel in the same team.

It is pointed out, for example, that no one thought Vinicius Junior could play as a centre-forward or that Federico Valverde could occupy so many different roles or even that Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni could play in the defence on a regular basis.

© IMAGO - Jude Bellingham is 'a complete player who can dominate matches'

Bellingham’s role next season will be different but, as Marca points out, just as important.

“His quality could serve to carry the weight of the team at certain times during games,” it states. “And the Englishman is a total player who can dominate the match.”

So don’t expect Bellingham to grab the volume of goals he scored this season with Mbappe around, but do expect him to remain decisive – but just in a different fashion.