REAL MADRID
Jude Bellingham represents Real Madrid’s transition to a younger starting XI
The Englishman leads the way in Real Madrid’s young team, which now boasts seven players under 25-years-old.
Real Madrid have been preparing to face an inevitable period of squad transition that has been floating on the horizon for a few years. The fear that comes with slowly phasing out some of the best players ever to play the game has been a topic of discussion that nobody has wanted to mention. But now, with the young players performing well, it is time to acknowledge the seriously brilliant work done by those involved to get the club through the moment nobody wanted to arrive.
Three Brazilians, two Frenchmen, one Uruguayan and an Englishman. All extraordinarily young, all undisputed starters in Madrid and their national teams. The players’ contracts are around or exceed five years in length meaning that their medium-term future is secured. They, the seven players, are the new Madrid in a transition that the club have made from the historic side that won five European Cups in nine years and of which only Carvajal remains as a clear member of the starting lineup.
The names in question are Bellingham (20), Vinicius (23), Rodrygo (22), Militão (25), Camavinga (20), Tchouaméni (23) and Valverde (25). The future is definitely here; they are the Bellingham Generation. Soon to be joined by Endrick, who will remain a Palmeiras player until he turns 18 next June, the squad is in fine shape. And then there is the possible arrival of another young superstar: Mbappé (24) and/or Haaland (23) would be a huge cherry on the cake.
Real Madrid gambled on young talent... and won
Los Blancos have made a total investment of €355 million ($373 million) to buy the seven players mentioned above. These signings have been hugely beneficial for the club’s accounts, as the estimated market value of the group currently stands at €710 million ($747 million).
Tchouaméni (€80m/$84m) and Bellingham (€100m/$105m) already arrived as established footballers at the elite level, despite their age, and a solid price was paid for them. Others, like Vinicius (€45m/$47m), Rodrygo (€40m/$42m) or Valverde (€5m/$5m) were risky bets (except for the Uruguayan, who cost a ridiculously low fee). As for the rest, such as Militão (€40m/$42m) or Camavinga (€45m/$47m), a fair, market-adjusted figure was paid.
Ancelotti has led the revolution
The father figure of Carlo Ancelotti has been fundamental in this regeneration process for Real Madrid: “This is a team that is going through a clear transition,” the coach recognised last season. Despite the changes, they won the Copa del Rey, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup; the year before that Real Madrid conquered the LaLiga title, their 14th Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup.
In what have been two seasons of extraordinary success, pieces that have marked an era in football - such as Cristiano, Benzema, Ramos or Casemiro - have left and others - such as Modric or Kroos - have now become part of the furniture at the Bernabéu after so many years at the top level.
Ancelotti’s input has been especially notable in some cases. Take Bellingham, for example, a player who has been transformed in record time. He saw in him a goalscoring midfielder akin to Lampard, and the Englishman has not disappointed, bagging ten goals in ten games. At Dortmund he scored 24 goals in 132 games and at Birmingham, 4 in 44. Right now he is the most in-form player in Europe and a fan favourite just when, given the departures, he was needed most.
The manager has carefully worked the young players into the team
Ancelotti has done something similar with Vinicius, who had a hard time getting his career in white off the ground. He played two games under Lopetegui and was dropped back into Real Madrid Castilla, the club’s youth team. With Solari at the helm he scored 7 goals in 31 games and failed to consistently convince while Zidane never fully trusted him: he got just 11 goals in 90 games. In the end, it was Ancelotti who transformed the winger from meme material into a world star: Vini Jr now has 48 goals in 114 appearances for Real Madrid.
The Italian coach has also made the most of the talent of Camavinga, who has performed well in the left-back slot on many occasions, as well as the defensive pivot and interior midfield role. Then there’s Valverde, who has been used as a link between the midfield and the forward line: he scored 12 goals last season.
Florentino Pérez placed all his trust in Ancelotti to guide the club through a transition period that was going to come sooner or later - and he got it right. The Italian has shown to be capable of improving all the young talent that has fallen into his hands; the Bellingham Generation has been born.
