Jude Bellingham Urged to Stay High in Alonso’s Madrid

Jude Bellingham exploded onto the Spanish scene two seasons ago, smashing 23 goals and powering Real Madrid to a La Liga-Champions League double. Last term his tally dipped to 15, yet the 22-year-old still drove the Blancos through tough stretches, proving that his knack for timely goals is no fleeting phenomenon.

Why Jude Bellingham’s Position Matters

The arrival of club legend Xabi Alonso as head coach has prompted a tactical rethink. Alonso’s preference for a fluid 4-3-2-1 hinges on a roaming No. 8 drifting between lines, and early briefings suggested he would deploy Jude Bellingham in a deeper, ball-progressing slot. Former Madrid full-back Michel Salgado, however, insists the Englishman’s “special smell for goals” must not be wasted. Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Salgado warned, “I need Bellingham close to the box. I don’t need Bellingham in the initial build-up.”

The Numbers Back a More Advanced Jude Bellingham

In his first Liga campaign, Jude Bellingham averaged 3.8 touches in the opposition box and 0.63 non-penalty goals per 90—elite figures for any midfielder. When Carlo Ancelotti pushed him slightly deeper last season, those metrics slipped to 2.1 touches and 0.38 goals. Alonso’s analytical staff have surely noted that correlation; shifting the Birmingham-born star farther forward could restore double-digit league strikes while preserving his creative output (he still ranked fourth in La Liga for progressive carries).

Balancing the Midfield Triangle

Alonso is expected to pair Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga behind Jude Bellingham, freeing the Englishman to ghost into pockets behind Vinícius Júnior and new arrival Kylian Mbappé. The French duo supply defensive steel and line-breaking passes, allowing Bellingham to focus on timing runs—something he already does as instinctively as Madrid icon Zinedine Zidane once did.

Bellingham’s Shoulder Surgery and Recovery Timeline

While Real Madrid celebrated FIFA Club World Cup success, Jude Bellingham finally scheduled corrective surgery on his troublesome right shoulder. Madrid doctors anticipate a six-week absence, meaning the midfielder should return in time for the business end of the Liga campaign and the Champions League quarter-finals. Club sources suggest Alonso will use that recovery window to refine automatisms between Vinícius, Mbappé, and Trent Alexander-Arnold—another close friend now stationed at right-back.

The Trent Factor

Alexander-Arnold’s pinpoint switches can fast-track counters in which Jude Bellingham arrives late, unmarked, at the penalty spot. The pair honed that pattern with England, and Alonso is eager to replicate it in white. Opponents who double up on Mbappé or Vinícius could suddenly face Bellingham charging into vacated channels, an echo of Frank Lampard’s prime.

Salgado’s “Special Smell” Comment Explained

Salgado’s praise riffs on an old Spanish phrase—“olfato especial”—reserved for instinctive scorers such as Raúl and Cristiano Ronaldo. By invoking it, the former right-back placed Jude Bellingham in lofty company, arguing that his off-ball movements are too lethal to suppress. Statistics bolster the claim: Bellingham’s expected-goals chain involvement sits at 0.91 per 90, third in Europe’s top five leagues among midfielders.

Alonso’s Tactical History Gives Clues

During his Bayer Leverkusen tenure, Alonso maximised Florian Wirtz by letting the German drift centrally while full-backs under-lapped. Analysts predict similar mechanics at the Bernabéu: Alexander-Arnold and Ferland Mendy tuck inside, midfield width compresses, and Jude Bellingham bursts beyond a back-pedalling block. The blueprint yielded Leverkusen an unbeaten Bundesliga season; Madrid hope for comparable ruthlessness on a grander stage.

Challenges Ahead

Inserting Mbappé without upsetting squad harmony remains Alonso’s trickiest puzzle. The coach must ensure the Frenchman and Vinícius share the left half-space without clogging Bellingham’s running lanes. Early indications are positive: in pre-season sessions before Bellingham’s surgery, the trio combined for quick one-twos that sliced through Madrid Castilla’s low block. Fans at Valdebebas have already nicknamed them “BMW.”

Long-Term Vision for Real Madrid

Club president Florentino Pérez views Jude Bellingham as a future Ballon d’Or candidate and ambassador for Madrid’s next-generation project. Contracted until 2030, the Englishman is poised to become the face of a rebuilt Bernabéu era, complete with retractable pitch and augmented-reality fan experiences. Keeping him in advanced positions will not only maximise goal returns but also maintain brand appeal in a time when midfielders seldom headline marketing campaigns.

Potential Midfield Depth Chart

1. Defensive anchor: Tchouaméni / Camavinga
2. Box-to-box shuttler: Fede Valverde / Luka Modrić
3. Attacking spearhead: Jude Bellingham / Arda Güler

That hierarchy demonstrates how Alonso can rotate without sacrificing Jude Bellingham’s attacking remit, especially in congested fixture weeks.

Opinion: A Golden Trio in the Making

Real Madrid supporters have long cherished goal-scoring midfielders—from Alfredo Di Stéfano’s deeper drops to Cristiano’s later evolution. Alonso’s mandate is clear: unleash Jude Bellingham in the zone where instinct meets opportunity. Paired with Vinícius’s dribbling chaos and Mbappé’s nuclear pace, Bellingham’s “special smell” for finishing could spark another Madrid dynasty. Keep him close to the box and silverware should follow.