Bellingham gets told where he’ll play next season

There are just two weeks left until the launch of Xabi Alonso’s new Real Madrid, and many questions remain about the tactical ideas the Spanish coach will unveil on June 18 at the Hard Rock Stadium, where Madrid will face Al Hilal. However, during his unveiling, Xabi did offer a small hint about one of his key players. “I see Bellingham as a midfielder,” said the new coach—a brief but telling statement about the role he envisions for the Englishman in his system.

And it’s no small detail. Quite the opposite. Throughout the season, Jude Bellingham’s (21) position has been a central topic of debate. The “Fantastic Four” lineup often left him floating between midfield and attack. From a clearly defined role as a playmaker in his debut season at Madrid, he evolved into a dynamic, mobile presence—one tasked with helping balance a side that, especially with the arrival of Mbappé, had fully embraced an attacking identity.

His output dipped, and Ancelotti made several adjustments to try to revive the best version of Jude. Whether operating centrally, on the left, or—like at Balaídos in October—on the right, where Carletto repositioned him in a bid to end an eight-game goal drought (which ultimately stretched to twelve), Jude became the team’s tactical chameleon.

Bellingham finished the regular season (excluding the Club World Cup) with 14 goals—matching his final tally at Dortmund. It’s a solid return, but nine goals fewer than in his first Madrid campaign, despite playing eight more matches. More telling, though, was the sense that much of his typically tireless effort wasn’t always channeled in a way that translated into maximum impact.

In his first season, his attacking actions were concentrated on the right side and just outside the box. This year, his movements were far more scattered, often appearing across the pitch, as shown in data visualizations from BeSoccer Pro.

That tireless energy—sometimes bordering on extravagance—was something Thomas Tuchel quickly noticed when he met with Jude during the March international break. “He’s always willing to give his all, but we need to help him operate within a structure so he can play with more economy and still have the same, or even greater, impact. Maybe a bit more discipline, so he can save energy for the decisive moments,” said England’s new manager. Tuchel will once again guide Bellingham in the upcoming matches against Andorra (Saturday 7) and Senegal (Tuesday 10).

“For Jude, almost any position can be special because he’s a special player. He’s going to be fundamental, and I think he’s in a great position to be that kind of key figure. I see him as a midfielder, and with his potential, the goal is to make him as efficient as possible,” explained Xabi Alonso. Economy, efficiency, energy management—concepts that clearly point to optimizing resources to unlock the best version of Bellingham.

Tuchel will be the first to take on that challenge during this international break. After that, the responsibility will shift to Xabi Alonso—who, with Jude’s cooperation, will aim to revive the player who dazzled in his first season at the Bernabéu.