Real Madrid are in great form this season. They are currently leading the La Liga table with 78 points, eight points above second-place holders Barcelona. Still, Madrid advanced to the ongoing UEFA Champions League semi-finals after beating Manchester City 4-3 in penalties in the quarter-finals second leg match.
Jude Bellingham has made a great contribution to Real Madrid’s success. He likes stretching out his hands whenever he scores. The midfielder scored a goal for Madrid in their first El Clasico in October 2023, helping them make a 2-1 comeback against Barcelona. Is he the team’s next legend?
Real Madrid Star’s Setbacks
Bellingham has had several setbacks since late last year including dislocating his left shoulder. The footballer uses strapping in all games to protect the shoulder. His left ankle twisted in February. Still, a referee sent him off in the Valencia vs. Real Madrid fixture for disputing his decision.
He stated in a recent interview, “The main thing that killed my rhythm was the [ankle] injury. Finally, I got over that pain in my ankle, played against Valencia, scored what I thought was a perfectly good goal, and got suspended.”
Bellingham’s setbacks have slightly reduced his performance. Antonio Rudiger, his teammate defended him, “At the beginning, I was a bit surprised, I didn’t know much about him. But, wow, he’s a big personality already, the way he handles himself … I’m not surprised anymore.”
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s coach, supported Rudiger’s remarks saying, “We weren’t surprised as a player, but we were as a person. Really professional. Really serious. Really humble. For his age, he’s mature.”
Bellingham Makes a Huge Impact at Real Madrid
Real Madrid signed Jude Bellingham last summer for €103 million. He stunned his teammates in the pre-season games. Yet, many people didn’t predict he would adapt to La Liga fast and make an instant impact at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
The 20-year-old footballer scored his first goal on August 12th when Real Madrid beat Athletic Club 2-0. He later admitted that he had a ‘lucky’ finish in that match. Nevertheless, Bellingham’s confidence increased fast as he netted the ball in his first four La Liga matches.
Rival Players’ Opinions About Real Madrid
Bellingham scored Madrid’s only goal against Celta Vigo on August 25th. Luca de la Torre, USMNT’s midfielder started the match and played up to the 79th minute, a few seconds before Bellingham’s goal.
He stated in a post-match interview, “He’s very good at arriving in the box. As a midfielder, it’s really difficult to mark for a centre-back, who’s focusing on the striker. He scored against us from just being in the right place at the right time. It can be really hard to defend against. If he can read the game well and know where the bounce is going, you have almost no chance.”
Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid’s coach said after a match against Real Madrid, “We were lucky. He’s an extraordinary player, and we were lucky. [Bellingham] has something difficult to spot, and that’s his runs from deep. He’s a midfielder who’s also a forward.
We always tell defenders the same thing: [Watch the] ball, [watch the] player. There are times when you lose sight of them. You watch the ball and miss the movement. Or you watch the movement and miss the ball. And it’s difficult to defend in those circumstances.
With his movement, you lose control of the player. And then, where might he show up? It’s no coincidence. He appears, and arrives from deep …. And he’s at a club where he has everything he needs to improve. I like him a lot.”
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