Doubts over Bellingham: Mbappe the winner as Real Madrid star branded 'VERY DISAPPOINTING'

10 Apr 2024 14:45 BST
4 min read

Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

The first doubts over Jude Bellingham following his transfer to Real Madrid are starting to take shape.

A 3-3 draw with Manchester City in the Champions League at the Bernabeu on Tuesday was not the result Los Blancos wanted and has raised the first questions over the ability of the 20-year-old to lead the team to European glory.

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All this is positive news for Kylian Mbappe, who is expected to take up the mantle of Real Madrid’s superstar when he arrives in the summer from PSG on a free transfer.

Bellingham’s form at the start of the season would have been a worry for the 25-year-old. It appeared that the No.5 was gaining sufficient love from the Bernabeu crowd that he could become their most loved player since Cristiano Ronaldo.

He still might, but some of the momentum he gained from scoring 17 times before New Year has gone. Despite maintaining a healthy balance of assists, he has scored in only two of his 12 games since and has been much less decisive.

STATS

32

Games
20

Goals
7

Assists

© IMAGO - Jude Bellingham had a brilliant start at Real Madrid

Spanish press turn on Bellingham

Mbappe would have had every right to be wary of stepping on ‘Jude’s patch’ in the latter part of 2023 when the former Dortmund star was arguably the best player in the world, but there has since been a shift in sentiment against him.

“Bellingham was very disappointing,” Cadena SER analyst Alvaro Benito, a former Real Madrid player, said.

Marca lamented: “Another off-colour match for Bellingham, which has come in a decisive run of games for the season.

“Against Man City, he tried but he lacked energy and spark.

“Is he playing badly? No, but he’s not the star Real Madrid needs to win the Champions League.”

Current ETV

ETV Range

€105.1M - €175.1M

Current ETV

ETV Range

€80.6M - €134.4M

It was left unsaid, but the implication was clear: Mbappe is that player who Real Madrid believe can elevate the team from drawing at home against Manchester City to beating them.

“This 3-3 draw against Manchester City feels like a defeat for us. We wanted to win,” Fede Valverde said after the game.

Why had Madrid placed such importance on this game? Because they know the difficulty they face at the Etihad Stadium next week. It is a very difficult task but not impossible.

Yet this offers the suddenly questioned Bellingham some potential redemption.

“Either Bellingham rises for the second leg at the Etihad or it seems an almost impossible task,” Marca admitted.

The pressure is already on Jude: either Real Madrid progress or he loses his mantel as the Bernabeu’s favourite son to Mbappe before the PSG star has even stepped foot in the building wearing the famous white shirt.

Read more about: La Liga, Ligue 1, PSG, Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé