Jude Bellingham has started the new season looking like a player with something to prove. The 23-year-old's two goals and three assists have helped Real Madrid to an impressive start under new boss Jose Mourinho, with three wins from as many games. Bellingham's performances, and the freedom he has been given in his new role, has attracted a lot of attention.
By playing higher up the pitch, he looks more free, more influential and closer to the role in which he first made such an impact at the Bernabeu in his debut 2023-24 season, where he scored 23 goals as his side won La Liga and the Champions League. Bellingham's last two campaigns were less consistent, with his displays and attacking influence affected not only by a deeper role, but by recurring injuries. He had a long-standing shoulder problem that required surgery in 2025 and a hamstring issue that kept him out for 10 matches in 2026.
Now, however, he appears to be at peak fitness, ready to build on his impressive World Cup form for England and showcase the full extent of his talent. Since returning this summer to take charge of the club for a second spell, Mourinho has made an important adjustment in reducing the defensive workload that previously meant Bellingham had to cover huge areas of the pitch. "We've organised the team differently," he said after Real Madrid's 4-0 La Liga win over Malaga.
"Bellingham sometimes defended like a second left-back last season. I told him I do not want to see that anymore. I made a deal with him." The Portuguese manager has used Bellingham primarily as a number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 system, operating behind French striker Kylian Mbappe and with the freedom to move across the attacking line.
That gives the England midfielder a clearer role. Rather than constantly moving between midfield, defence and attack, he can spend more time in the areas where he is most dangerous. "For me, this is his position, with his connection with the forwards, he can score goals," added Mourinho.
"He has to play close to the goal. Playing at number six or number eight, we're losing his closeness to the goal. I like this Jude." It has meant Bellingham can receive the ball between the lines, carry it forward, combine with the forwards and make late runs into the penalty area.
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