The English midfielder from Real Madrid, author of eight goals in the league, is the top scorer in La Liga since the start of the season. He scored twice again on Saturday.
We expected to see Robert Lewandowski, Vinicius Junior or even Antoine Griezmann proudly at the top of the La Liga scorers rankings. But the current top scorer in the Spanish championship is a midfielder. Arriving at Real Madrid this summer from Borussia Dortmund, Jude Bellingham has eight goals in eight games, two more having been scored on Saturday October 7 in his team’s crushing victory against Osasuna (4-0). In total, he was directly involved in 13 goals in 10 matches in all competitions (10 goals, 3 assists).
Enough to surprise his coach, Carlo Ancelotti, who thought he had seen everything in his 31-year career. “No one could have imagined that he would score so many goals”, recognized the Italian at a press conference. And for good reason, he has already equaled his best total in the league over a season, achieved last year in the Bundesliga.
In his wake, Real Madrid are at the top of La Liga, despite a mixed start to the season in the game. Bellingham’s saving goals mask the collective deficiencies of his team, as when he scored the victorious goal at the end match against Celta Vigo (1-0 in the 81st), against Getafe (2-1 in the 90th +5) or against Union Berlin in the Champions League (1-0 in the 90th +4). “The DNA of the comeback at Real Madrid is real, now that I’m here, I see it.”declared the person concerned, perfectly accustomed to his new environment after a victory at Almeria (3-1) in which his two goals helped to reverse the score.
Freed by the departure of Benzema
“He has adapted very well, we are lucky to have recruited a spectacular player.”, continued Ancelotti on Saturday. He did not hesitate to place the Englishman at the heart of his offensive game system, giving him great latitude. It is therefore not uncommon to see him pierce opposing defenses with vertical and sharp runs, as was for example the case against Naples in the Champions League (3-2: 1 goal, 1 assist). Wearing Zinédine Zidane’s legendary number 5 at Real Madrid could have been a burden, especially at only 20 years old.
The absence of a real center forward opened the way for him, after the departure of Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia and the non-transfer of Kylian Mbappé. Through his projections, Bellingham intuitively fills the void left by the Ballon d’Or. His connection with Real Madrid’s other offensive asset, Vinicius Junior, is brilliant. “They have different characteristics, but they combine well: Vini comes from the side, Bellingham from the inside.”analyzed their coach.
Play it like Shakespeare
“He has a lot of qualities, physical strength and technical skillscontinued Ancelotti. He’s only 20 but he looks 30, thanks to his character and his attitude.” Despite his youth, Bellingham is not a newcomer. The midfielder is coming off three full seasons in the Bundesliga with Dortmund and took part in the last World Cup as part of the Three Lions.
However, such an early integration in Madrid did not necessarily come naturally. Between the veterans Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, the sure bet Federico Valverde, the two rising French stars Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga, his place in the Madrid midfield was not guaranteed. But the Englishman immediately imposed himself, forcing for example Camavinga to sometimes play as a left back, or Tchouaméni to move back into central defense like on Saturday.
From Eden Hazard to Luka Jovic, examples of expensive recruits with uneven performance have flourished in recent years. The White House has not left to regret the 100 million euros invested in the prodigy. You had to scrutinize the X account (formerly Real Madrid’s Twitter) to be convinced one last time: “The English who wrote love stories: William Shakespeare and Jude Bellingham”, posted the Iberian club on Saturday. The dream has everything to last beyond summer nights.