How Real Madrid could line up with Jude Bellingham
A whole host of clubs were supposedly interested in acquiring Jude Bellingham’s signature at the end of the 2022/23 season, but Dortmund’s asking price rendered Real and Man City the two likeliest destinations.
Now Los Blancos have officially won the race for his signature, with the midfielder putting pen to paper on a six-year deal at the club.
Here’s how the England international could fit in at Real Madrid…
Box-to-box in a 4-3-3
Could Bellingham and Modric play together at Real? / Robin Jones/GettyImages
Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are still going strong, but boy, Real have the ultimate succession plan in Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga. Not to mention the excellent Federico Valverde.
While the French duo have primarily been used in a holding role (Camavinga has also operated at left-back) since they joined the club, Bellingham has rarely functioned as a six and Real haven’t signed him to develop into Casemiro’s successor. That’d be a waste of his skill set.
Bellingham is at his best when given the freedom to advance in a box-to-box role, with much of his good work coming from a left-sided eight position. Kroos has excelled here for however many years in the Spanish capital, and he’ll share his minutes with the England international next season. Bellingham could, of course, operate from the right side of Carlo Ancelotti’s expected midfield three, also.
Potential lineups:
Luka Modric (CM) – Eduardo Camavinga (CM) – Jude Bellingham (CM)
Luka Modric (CM) – Aurelien Tchouameni (CM) – Jude Bellingham (CM)
Federico Valverde (CM) – Toni Kroos (CM) – Jude Bellingham (CM)
Jude Bellingham (CM) – Eduardo Camavinga (CM) – Toni Kroos (CM)
Double pivot
Ancelotti has rarely used a double pivot since he returned to the Bernabeu, with a 4-3-3 emerging as the exclusive system of choice. A 4-4-2 has been used on occasions.
Bellingham featured in a double pivot during the formative stages of his senior career but rarely since and, overall, it’s hard to envisage Ancelotti – or his potential successor – deviating from a midfield three next season given their riches at the position.
The club isn’t exactly blessed with a natural number ten either if a switch to a 4-2-3-1 was made. Perhaps Rodrygo is best suited to fulfilling that role.
Nevertheless, if Bellingham was to play in a double pivot, he’d need a stabilising force alongside him. Thus, the marauding Valverde and 37-year-old Modric wouldn’t be suitable options.
Potential lineups:
Jude Bellingham (DM) – Toni Kroos (DM)
Jude Bellingham (DM) – Eduardo Camavinga (DM)
Jude Bellingham (DM) – Aurelien Tchouameni (DM)
Bellingham is a majestic midfielder, but he’s not built like the languid romanticists that defined the number ten role during a time where pressing wasn’t so prevalent.
Nevertheless, the 19-year-old could perhaps operate as a modern-day ten in a 4-2-3-1 should a systematic switch be made next season. The England international is ever so crafty in possession, and he’s proven to be mightily productive in the final third during his spell in Dortmund.
While an unfamiliar position, the function would hand the teenager more freedom in an environment that has swallowed up plenty of stars in the past. It’d ease him into life at the Bernabeu, but it’s simply not going to happen.
Potential lineups:
Federico Valverde (CM) – Toni Kroos (CM) – Jude Bellingham (AM)
Luka Modric (CM) – Eduardo Camavinga (CM) – Jude Bellingham (AM)
Luka Modric (CM) – Toni Kroos (CM) – Jude Bellingham (AM)
Aurelien Tchouameni (CM) – Eduardo Camavinga (CM) – Jude Bellingham (AM)
Source: 90mins
