How Valverde's Clasico clinic brings Bellingham closer to Real Madrid

Cameron Smith

• 16 Oct 2022 11:52 CDT
• 3 min read

Federico Valverde's low-driven strike in Real Madrid's 3-1 El Clasico win over Barcelona saw his tally for the 2022/23 season reach five goals and two assists, with the Uruguay international almost solely deployed on the right flank by Carlo Ancelotti.

The Italian manager began using Valverde in a right-wing role during Los Blancos' run to the 2022 Champions League final, and it's a decision that has paid off massively over the past nine months.

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Valverde has been kept out wide by Ancelotti, rather than be moved infield to a more natural central midfield slot, with his intensity and work-rate from the front a key reason for Real Madrid's impressive start to the season.

With Karim Benzema sidelined earlier in the campaign, it was Valverde who stood up and took on the mantle of becoming Real Madrid's main man in attack. Three goals in three successive games against RCD Mallorca, RB Leipzig, and Atletico Madrid back in mid-September highlighted the attacking prowess that Valverde possesses, a fact that was shown in his second ever El Clasico goal.

While Valverde is most commonly associated with being a central midfielder, recent months have suggested that he may have a future as a right-winger under Ancelotti.

Although it's likely that the Uruguayan transitions back infield in the coming years, Ancelotti currently favours using him out wide, and therefore he may wish to keep him in that role for the foreseeable future.

The presence of Rodrygo may mean that Valverde does eventually become a full-time central midfielder, but that's not a guarantee, especially considering Valverde has now proven his worth as a right-winger in the biggest game in Spain.

As a result, it may push Jude Bellingham even closer to a move to Real Madrid.

Why Valverde pushes Bellingham to Real Madrid move

With Valverde now a trusted member of Ancelotti's starting XI on the right flank, there may soon become a void in the middle of the park with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos still ageing.

Therefore, Jude Bellingham could be fast-tracked into the Real Madrid team. The England international has been heavily linked with a move to Los Blancos in 2023, and with Valverde looking more like a winger with each passing game, a transfer for Bellingham may be prioritised over signing a forward.

So, while it's conceivable that Valverde's form may mean Bellingham is less likely to join Real Madrid, the opposite is far more likely to happen, with both players capable of co-existing in the same team.