Answering the Bellingham conundrum

Another derby is on the horizon… and with it another dilemma: whether Jude Bellingham should start in the clash between the two neighbours. A similar situation already arose in September, with decidedly negative consequences for Real Madrid.

At the time, Los Blancos were managed by Xabi Alonso. The Englishman, who was recovering from shoulder surgery, made his first start of the season that afternoon at the Metropolitano.

Real Madrid suffered a heavy defeat (5-2), and much of the criticism fell on Bellingham, who was making his first start after only limited minutes earlier in the campaign. Until then, he had played just one minute against Espanyol and 19 against Levante in Valencia, coming off the bench in both matches. He had little influence on Madrid’s play, with minimal involvement during his 70 minutes on the pitch before being replaced by Rodrygo. That afternoon marked the beginning of his uneasy relationship with the manager.

Days later, he attempted to turn the page in Real Madrid’s opening Champions League match. From the vibrant city of Almaty, he posted the following message on social media: “A bad day this weekend and there’s still work to be done, but it’s time to refocus on the Champions League.”

The Englishman enjoyed his best spell at the end of October. He scored against Juventus in the Champions League, found the net again days later in the Clásico at the Bernabéu (2-1), and then scored once more a week later, on November 1st, against Valencia at the Bernabéu (4-0). Everything seemed to be going his way.

Then came another setback for both him and the team: a defeat in Liverpool, followed by draws against Rayo Vallecano and Elche. He did manage to score again at Elche’s stadium, a goal that prevented a Madrid defeat. But he never fully aligned with Xabi Alonso’s ideas, amid rumours of alleged nights out that he later tried to shut down on social media.

Now, with the arrival of Álvaro Arbeloa, with whom he has shared barely 370 minutes on the pitch, the Englishman finds himself in a similar situation. Without him, the team appears to have turned things around completely. It feels as though Madrid has found a new direction at a crucial point in the season, with away trips to Valencia and Pamplona, a European tie against Benfica, and home matches against Real Sociedad and Getafe on the horizon.

But on February 1st, during the league match against Rayo Vallecano, he went down with a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg. Since then, he has not set foot on the pitch. He travelled to Manchester, reportedly at his own request according to Arbeloa, but he did not play. Now the delicate balancing act begins again… with a derby just around the corner.

The presence of Thiago Pitarch has brought freshness and stability to the team’s play. Güler took a significant step forward in terms of personality at a stadium like the Etihad. Tchouameni and Valverde seem indispensable in midfield. Up front, Vinícius and Mbappé appear untouchable, now that the French striker has returned from his knee sprain.

Arbeloa made that clear with a veiled message in the press conference after the victory against Manchester City: “The takeaway from this tie is that this is the way forward, whoever is on the pitch. In the Champions League and in La Liga. If we’re not at 100%, anyone can beat us. We have to fight, battle and sacrifice ourselves, give our all on the pitch…”

It was a direct and forceful message. The time has come to work harder than everyone else, to always be the solution and never the problem. The puzzle now rests on the shoulders of the Englishman.

As if that were not enough, another development has added to the situation: a call-up to the Three Lions. Bellingham has been selected by his country for this international break. England will play two friendly matches at Wembley, the first against Uruguay and the second against Japan.

Trent is not on the list. Jude is, despite not having played a single minute since February 1st. The decision has not gone down well with Real Madrid fans. It has generated murmurs and only deepened the intrigue surrounding him.

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