Xabi Alonso Puzzled Over Bellingham's Role in Real Madrid's Lineup
English star Jude Bellingham has been included in Real Madrid's squad for the first time this season in La Liga, in preparation for the upcoming match against Espanyol, after recovering from injury.
The English international had been named in the Blancos' squad for the past match against Marseille in the Champions League, but coach Xabi Alonso decided not to field him, as he remained on the bench.
Bellingham had been suffering from a shoulder injury he sustained with Real Madrid during the 2023/2024 season. The player decided to undergo shoulder surgery after the Club World Cup.
Xabi Alonso Seeks a Place for Bellingham in Real Madrid's Lineup
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the increasing proximity of Jude Bellingham's return, who is an undisputed starter, forces the Spanish coach to find the best tactical formula to utilize his abilities.
The Spanish newspaper added that the anticipated return of Jude Bellingham, who sat on the bench against Marseille without playing, opens a wide debate within Real Madrid led by Xabi Alonso. In the absence of the English player, the coach relied on a clear tactical formation, with some flexibility when circumstances, such as red cards in the last two matches, forced a change in the system.
It continued that the 4-3-3 formation has been the most prominent feature of Real Madrid under Alonso, with experiments in other formations like 4-4-2 and sometimes 3-5-2 during the Club World Cup or at specific moments in the league, such as the final minutes against Real Sociedad. However, Bellingham's return, who will undoubtedly be a starter in any team worldwide, opens up several new options for the coach.
It further added that logic suggests that Arda Güler and Franco Mastantuono are the most likely to be affected by the English star's return. The departure of the Argentine from the lineup could allow for a strong midfield featuring Valverde and Tchouaméni as a double pivot, Bellingham on the left wing, and Güler on the right.
This formation necessitates playing with only two forwards, a scenario that favors Vinícius over Rodrygo due to his ability to exploit central spaces, while Mbappé remains untouchable. It clarified that this solution, leading to a 4-4-2 or 4-2-2-2, appears to be the most probable. Maintaining the 4-3-3 would force Alonso to drop Güler, a player who has provided key elements for the team, which is an illogical choice despite the Turk still being in development and making some mistakes, like the ball that led to Marseille's last goal.
It concluded that another option is to switch to a 4-2-3-1, with Bellingham in the playmaker role behind the striker, Arda or Franco competing for the right midfield position, and Mbappé as the outright center forward. This possibility might be the least disruptive in terms of names, but it could represent a radical change in the team's structure and leave the door open for renewed controversy between Vinícius and Rodrygo, which has recently intensified after the Brazilian from Santos started ahead of his compatriot from Flamengo.
