Bellingham Rediscovers His Best Form Under Mourinho with Goals, Assists and Freedom at Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham has recaptured his spark. The English midfielder is enjoying a brilliant start to the season with Real Madrid and once again looks like the player who dazzled during his first campaign in white. José Mourinho has restored his confidence and, more importantly, handed him a role on the pitch that allows him to live near the penalty area, where he does the most damage.

• Bellingham has scored two goals in the opening three LaLiga matchdays, finding the net against Espanyol and delivering a standout performance against Málaga.
• He did not score against Real Sociedad but provided two assists and was one of Real Madrid's most impressive players.
• Mourinho has deployed him as an attacking midfielder playing behind Kylian Mbappé, a very different role from the one he occupied last season.
• The Englishman is delighted with his new position and admits that he now plays with more freedom to move higher or drop deeper depending on what the game requires.

Bellingham Returns to the Area Where He Shone in His First Real Madrid Season

Bellingham's first season at Real Madrid exceeded all expectations. He was the team's biggest revelation thanks to a key decision by Carlo Ancelotti: pushing him further forward to play close to the opposition box. That change completely transformed his output, moving away from the deep-lying midfield profile he had shown at Borussia Dortmund.

In Germany he operated almost exclusively in the center of the pitch, far from the rival goal. In Madrid, however, he found a new habitat. The penalty area became his territory and the goals began to flow with a naturalness that surprised everyone. That is precisely the version Mourinho wants to bring back.

From Shoulder Surgery to Playing Far From Goal: The Decline of Bellingham

After that spectacular first season, the Englishman's performances took several steps backward. The shoulder operation was the first blow, keeping him out of action for several months. Then came the tactical decisions that moved him away from the area where he had excelled.

Xabi Alonso chose to drop him deeper to help with ball progression, which meant spending long stretches away from the opposition box. The decision did not sit well with the player, who was also singled out after the Basque coach was dismissed. Under Álvaro Arbeloa the situation did not improve: Bellingham continued to play far from goal with responsibilities tied more to build-up play than to finishing.

What Mourinho Has Changed with Bellingham Behind Mbappé

José Mourinho has identified the problem and applied a direct solution. The Portuguese coach wants the Englishman in the attacking midfield role, operating as a number ten behind Kylian Mbappé. The plan is clear: Bellingham will keep contributing to midfield, but from a position much closer to the opposing goal.

That is the habitat where he showed his best qualities upon arriving at Real Madrid and where he feels genuinely comfortable. The player makes no secret of his satisfaction with the new setup. "Now I play with a bit more freedom, with licence to move higher or drop deeper depending on what we need. I'm really enjoying it, and that's why I'm playing well," he said after the match against Málaga.

Mourinho's Message About Where Bellingham Played Last Season

Mourinho has not only repositioned the player; he has also made a pointed comment about what he saw last season. "I agreed with him that I did not want to see Jude defending almost as a second left-back, which I saw many times," the coach stated.

I agreed with him that I did not want to see Jude defending almost as a second left-back, which I saw many times.

The Portuguese coach went even further, acknowledging that in a Champions League group-stage match he won with Benfica the previous season he exploited exactly that situation: Bellingham's need to leave the center and defend on the left flank. The plan is different now. The team is organized in another way, with defined roles that allow the Englishman to feel comfortable. "He likes everyone to do their job," he added.

Why Bellingham Is Making the Difference Again in LaLiga

The early-season statistics reflect the change. On matchday one he scored Real Madrid's first goal against Espanyol and hit the crossbar. Against Real Sociedad he did not get on the scoresheet but registered two assists and was one of the team's best performers. Against Málaga he delivered a complete display with a goal and a move that led to another.

The context supports his resurgence: he plays close to Mbappé, contributes to the build-up without abandoning goalscoring positions, and recovers the confidence lost over several months. That balance between arriving in the box and linking play is exactly what Mourinho wants from his attacking midfielder and what Bellingham publicly appreciates.

Bellingham's Optimism and What Lies Ahead for Real Madrid

The player feels supported, comfortable on the pitch and free from excessive defensive responsibilities. His words reflect the satisfaction of someone who is once again enjoying football in the position he considers natural for his game. Real Madrid, for its part, regains a footballer capable of making the difference week after week.