Jude Bellingham has once again come under fire from the Spanish press - this time for apparently 'lacking creativity, physicality, and dynamism'.
The Englishman has been criticised for going quiet in high-pressure moments alongside Vinicius Junior in a scathing article by Madrid-based newspaper Marca.
It comes after Real Madrid collapsed to a 4-2 defeat at Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday, plunging them into the play-offs.
Just days ago, Bellingham was reported to be one of five stars hauled in for talks with club president Florentino Perez over 'attitude' problems, according to Cadena SER.
But his new manager Alvaro Arbeloa is happy with what he has seen from the 22-year-old, who has started all bar one game in the last three months.
'I've seen a player with exceptional quality and abilities,' Arbeloa said on Tuesday.
'Anyone who's seen him on television knows it, but when you're up close, it's even more surprising.
'Beyond his football quality, I've seen a player who wants to be a leader, a role model. The other day, 48 hours after a game, I told him - and I never, ever say this - "stop running."
'The performance he's giving in training, his commitment and his leadership... I'm very proud of having a player like Jude Bellingham.
'On the pitch, he's capable of doing so many things well.
'He's a player who makes runs into space, gets into the box, has a good shot, he reads the game. He's young, but he has a lot of experience. And he's going to be the cornerstone of this Real Madrid for many years.'
All the same, Marca accused Bellingham and Vinicius Jr of not 'seeming capable of taking the reins' when in high-pressure situations - an assessment which flies in the face of what we've seen of the midfielder for England.
'Bellingham chased shadows at Da Luz, began Marca's withering assessment.
'Lacking creativity, physicality, and the dynamism that made him an instant idol upon his arrival, the young man who dazzled the Bernabeu with his boundless hunger now seems diluted in a role that doesn't suit him, that diminishes his presence.'
Bellingham has been deployed deeper this season - Kylian Mbappe's constant goalscoring means the former Birmingham and Borussia Dortmund star isn't required to crash the box as much.
He has scored six goals and set up a further four in all competitions this campaign.
The youngster bagged his first goal of 2026 in Madrid's 6-1 demolition of Monaco last week and celebrated by pretending to drink as as he mocked claims of him leading a party lifestyle.
'There's two ways you can take it: you can cry about it and moan, or send a lawyer, or you can just roll with it and enjoy it,' Bellingham told TNT Sports.
'I know the truth, I know what really goes on in my personal life, I know what I give to the game and the team. All the outside noise doesn't really matter.'
Abcdefootball
54
I feel Madrid signed him because of his tall height. Madrid goes for only talk players, that's why the shortest player Endrick was loaned. 😂😂😂😂
Jezaeklnoz
45
over hyped players
taybdknruz
24
as for me Jude Bellingham is not an exceptional player, the only time people feel is performing is when he score in a match. asides from goal scoring he offers next to nothing in a match go and verify.
Ubong12
10
Lol., when it comes to the game of 'football', just leave it for what it is. Just some months back, they claimed he boosted all this qualities in abundance, so what has changed? This guys are human and i still pity those who think a footballer must start and end his career on A-games. They'll always be Games, Weeks, months or even season where the players will be below standard, it takes a couple of match for downtimes to kick-in and still a couple of match for that fine form to return. They're still who they used to be.