Jude Bellingham’s troubled start to his second season at Real Madrid took another nightmare turn at the weekend with Spanish press heaping criticism on him as the reigning Champions League holders were dismantled in a 4-0 El Clasico defeat.
The Englishman struggled alongside his fellow Madrid superstars as Robert Lewandowski led Barcelona’s stunning four-goal performance at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Bellingham scored 23 goals during his debut year in the Spanish capital but is yet to find the back of the net once this season in 11 matches across all competitions and has been wasteful in front of goal.
Kylian Mbappe’s blockbuster summer move forced Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti to adjust Bellingham’s position to accommodate for the Frenchman and the change is so far proving difficult.
Instead of playing further forward, Bellingham has dropped into a deeper midfield role that puts an increased focus on defending and his performances are falling short of what supporters have come to expect.
Jude Bellingham’s troubled start to his second season at Real Madrid took another nightmare turn in the weekend’s El Clasico defeat
Bellingham was forced into playing a more defensive role as Barcelona dominated proceedings
Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti (pictured) has adjusted Bellingham’s midfield position
The 21-year-old was wasteful with his shooting in clashes against Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona last week as his desperation to resulted in chaotic attempts to score and Spanish media are heavily scrutinising Bellingham’s performances.
Then in Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu humbling against their arch rivals, heat maps show Bellingham was often playing on the flank and at times deputising at right-back.
AS fumed that the young talent has done a ‘180 degree turn’ and is no longer the goal threat he once was after dropping into a defensive position that he is struggling to adjust to.
The positional change hampered Bellingham from getting into the dangerous attacking positions against Barcelona that he has thrived in since moving to Spain as the LaLiga holders slumped to a dismal defeat.
Kylian Mbappe’s summer arrival at Madrid is causing changes in the team’s tactics
Bellingham continues to search for an opening goal of the season after failing to score against Barcelona
Madrid boss Ancelotti has previously tried to calm criticism of Bellingham, stating before the El Clasico loss: ‘His condition is very good even if he is not scoring goals, his work is very important and he knows it very well.’
However, discontent is growing amongst the club’s demanding supporters who are also yet to be convinced Mbappe can deliver success after joining from PSG.
The Madrid superstar struggled to stay onside against Barcelona and when he was presented with goalscoring chances watched as his shots were well-saved.
Both Mbappe and Bellingham will join their team-mate Vinicius Jnr in Paris on Monday evening with the trio amongst the shortlisted candidates to lift the Ballon d’Or.
