Bellingham controversial

When Real Madrid spent more than 100 million euros to bring Jude Bellingham to the Bernabeu, the whole world knew that the Spanish Royal team were betting on a special talent. What few expected was that after just over a season, the story of the English midfielder's ideal position became a hot topic in the tactical meeting room.

The storm of goals and thirst has cooled

Think back to Bellingham's first season, when he scored 23 goals, becoming the most feared midfielder in Europe. "Belligol" was the nickname given to Bellingham by fans - a pleasant surprise for a player not known for his goalscoring ability. That season, the former Borussia Dortmund star played as a pure attacking midfielder, with freedom of movement and a killer streak into the opposition penalty area.

However, the wheel of time has turned. This season, with many changes in the squad and tactics, Bellingham gradually shifted to a new role - a left-sided playmaker. His ability to score goals has decreased, but his contribution to the team's play has increased. This is a different version of Bellingham, no longer a "Belligol" but a "Bellisist" - a creator.

This change is not without reason. With the team having to change their tactical formation after welcoming Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid need a Bellingham who can link the midfield and attack, rather than a Bellingham who only knows how to penetrate the opponent's penalty area.

Bellingham is no longer as explosive as in his first season at Real Madrid.

If the rumours about Xabi Alonso taking over the Bernabeu are true, the Spaniard will face one of the toughest decisions of his managerial career: how to use Bellingham?

Xabi Alonso is known for his clear and consistent footballing philosophy. At Bayer Leverkusen, he built a formidable team with a flexible three-man defence that switched to a four-man defence when needed. But in Madrid, with a star-studded squad that includes Bellingham, Mbappe, Vinicius, Rodrygo and Valverde, how does one fit it all into a sensible formation?

One possibility is that Real Madrid switch to a back four, with Tchouameni and Valverde in central midfield. This would push Bellingham forward, but the question is: where would he play? On the left, where Vinicius Junior is the undisputed king? As a centre-forward, where Mbappe could potentially occupy? Or as an attacking midfielder, where he shone last season but could unbalance the midfield?

When a genius has to choose a role

Bellingham is at a crossroads: return to the goalscoring role of 'Belligol', continue to develop his creativity as a playmaker, or find a balance between the two? It's not just a tactical question, it's a question of identity.

At Dortmund, Bellingham was a complete box-to-box midfielder. When he moved to Madrid, he became a goal-scoring machine. Now, Bellingham is in the process of transforming himself into a creative midfielder. For a player who is only 21, such constant change can raise questions about his footballing identity: who is Bellingham on the pitch?

Mbappe's appearance makes Bellingham "confused" in Real Madrid's tactical scheme.

A recent dip in form could be a sign of a talent trying to find his feet. Not everyone can shine in any position - a lesson many stars have learned the hard way. Paul Pogba at Manchester United and Eden Hazard at Real Madrid are prime examples.

Kylian Mbappe's arrival is not only a delight for Real Madrid fans but also a tactical challenge. The Frenchman can play as a centre-forward or as a left winger, but his preferred position is clearly the left wing - where Vinicius Junior is making waves.

Playing Mbappe as a striker could be a solution, but it would mean Bellingham would be unlikely to return to his free attacking midfield role from last season. Or if Mbappe were to play on the left wing, Vinicius would likely have to move to the right, forcing Bellingham to find a new position in the formation.

This tactical puzzle is not easy to solve, and it directly affects Bellingham’s future at Madrid. In modern football, there are players like Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller, who, despite not having a clear position, always find space to shine. Can Bellingham become one of those?

With his exceptional talent, Bellingham will certainly continue to be an important part of Real Madrid's plans. However, to fully exploit the potential of the English midfielder, Xabi Alonso or any coach who takes over at Real Madrid will need to make a clear and firm decision.

Where Bellingham will play next season is a difficult question for Real Madrid.

Bellingham cannot be both a Belligol and a Bellist at the same time. He needs a defined role, a stable position in which to develop and perfect his skills. Football history is full of great talents wasted because of inconsistency in their use.

Real Madrid are facing a crucial decision: should they keep Bellingham as a goalscoring attacking midfielder, as they did in his first season, or should they develop him into a versatile playmaker? The answer will not only shape Bellingham's future, but also Real Madrid's long-term development strategy.

Perhaps the answer lies not in choosing one role over the other, but in finding a new version of Bellingham – a midfielder who can balance goalscoring and creativity, a player who can adapt to any situation on the pitch. That would be the greatest version of Bellingham, one worthy of the €100m price tag and the expectations of the fans.

The new season is approaching, and the Bellingham debate is still unresolved. But one thing is certain: the young English midfielder is one of the world's top talents, regardless of his position, and Real Madrid will do everything they can to maximize his potential. The only question is: how will they do it?

Source: https://znews.vn/bellingham-gay-tranh-cai-post1554597.html