How 'unique' Bellingham is thriving in Mourinho's system

What the report says

Jude Bellingham is emerging as one of the early standouts in Real Madrid’s new season under Jose Mourinho, with BBC Sport Football reporting that the England midfielder has started strongly and appears to be enjoying a more natural role. The article says Bellingham has two goals and three assists as Madrid opened with three wins from three, and that his performances have drawn attention because he is being used higher up the pitch and with more attacking freedom.

According to BBC Sport, Mourinho has shifted Bellingham away from the heavy defensive responsibilities he carried last season, instead deploying him mainly as a No. 10 behind Kylian Mbappe in a 4-2-3-1 system. The change is meant to keep him closer to goal, where he can combine with forwards, make late runs into the box and press from advanced areas rather than constantly dropping deep. Mourinho said he had made a “deal” with the midfielder to reduce his defensive workload.

The report adds context from Bellingham’s recent career at Madrid: after a brilliant debut season in 2023-24, injuries and a deeper role contributed to less consistent form in the following campaigns. He has also been building on strong World Cup performances for England. Bellingham told Real Madrid TV that he feels more free in the new setup and described working with Mourinho as a dream, while the manager praised him as a unique and important player who could be in the Ballon d’Or conversation.