Jude Bellingham is thought to be the first casualty of Kylian Mbappe's arrival at Real Madrid in the summer of 2024. Bellingham's move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 was a refreshing boost for the team. Signed from Borussia Dortmund for 103 million euros, Bellingham exceeded expectations. This hefty investment, equivalent to Rp1.78 trillion, proved to be a wise decision for Madrid. In his first four matches in La Liga, Bellingham scored five goals. By the 12th week of the season, he had netted 10 goals—a remarkable record for a central midfielder. This performance came at a crucial time for Madrid, which had just lost their captain and star striker, Karim Benzema. Additionally, Joselu, on loan from Espanyol, was initially met with skepticism, although his contributions have since been recognized.
Bellingham's impressive form owes much to Carlo Ancelotti's strategic placement on the field. Ancelotti utilized the English midfielder as an attacking midfielder in a 4-3-1-2 formation, granting him freedom in the final third. Bellingham has played in four different positions for Real Madrid: attacking midfielder, left midfielder, center forward, and second striker. However, his most frequent role has been as an attacking midfielder, where he has made 33 appearances and scored 20 goals.
Looking ahead to the 2024-2025 season, Bellingham's dominant performance might face challenges. According to BolaSport.com, citing Marca, Ancelotti has already devised plans for Bellingham's precise position in the upcoming season, potentially affecting his impact on the field.
Carlo Ancelotti plans to return Jude Bellingham to his natural position in central midfield for the 2024-2025 season. Ancelotti aims to deploy Bellingham in a deeper role where he can defend and control the game's tempo. This strategy aligns with the anticipated arrival of Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid in the summer of 2024. Although Mbappe hasn't confirmed his destination, he is widely expected to join Madrid. The PSG forward's prolific goalscoring ability, demonstrated by his 44 goals in 47 appearances this season and a total of 256 goals for PSG, means he will likely take on the primary goalscoring responsibilities.
Next season, Real Madrid's wing positions are expected to be occupied by Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo in formations like 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. Additionally, the arrival of Endrick will bolster Madrid's attacking options. Consequently, Bellingham's presence in the final third may be less frequent, similar to Federico Valverde's experience this season, likely leading to a decrease in his goal tally.
source: Marca, Transfermarkt
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