ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- Jude Bellingham praised his new freedom under José Mourinho after scoring in Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Málaga.
- Bellingham contributed two goals and two assists in three LaLiga games, earning praise from Mourinho as an 'absolutely incredible player'.
- Bellingham expressed disappointment in Madrid's late-game drop-off despite leading 3-0, calling the final 20 minutes 'really bad'.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
Jude Bellingham’s freedom under José Mourinho is not a tactical tweak — it is the engine of Real Madrid’s early-season dominance. By allowing the England international to drift from a rigid double-pivot into advanced zones and deep-link roles, Mourinho has unlocked a player who already shows two goals and two assists in three LaLiga games. Bellingham’s 19th-minute opener against Málaga and his goalbound header that led to Madrid’s second prove he is operating with purpose, not just possession.
The danger, as Bellingham himself admitted, lies in concentration after big leads — the side conceded fluency in the final 20 minutes despite a 3-0 halftime advantage. Yet Mourinho’s refusal to use him as a second left-back, a role that hampered his impact at Benfica, shows the coach understands Bellingham’s value lies in fluidity between lines, not defensive rigidity. The synergy with Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior is already visible in pressing triggers and quick combinations.
The next test is whether this freedom translates against organised low blocks — starting with the Champions League league-phase opener at Inter Milan on September 17. If Bellingham can maintain his influence when space is tighter, Madrid’s attack gains a new dimension.
WHY IT MATTERS
Bellingham's adaptation to Mourinho's system highlights his tactical versatility and growing influence at Real Madrid, reinforcing the team's early-season dominance and title credentials in LaLiga.
Jude Bellingham
CM / CAM
England
Strengths
- ✓Elite late-run timing into the box
- ✓Ability to drive progress from deep
- ✓Calm finishing under pressure
- ✓High work rate in pressing transitions
- ⚠Can he maintain defensive discipline when given attacking freedom?
- ⚠Will his effectiveness drop if opponents tightly mark his preferred half-spaces?
TACTICAL FIT
Bellingham's freedom to drift between advanced and deep positions allows him to link play and create overloads, enhancing Madrid's fluid attacking structure under Mourinho's flexible approach.
THE DEBATE
Is Bellingham's best role as a free No. 10 or a deeper playmaker in Mourinho's system?
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Burley: Real Madrid can challenge Barcelona with Bellingham at his best (1:35)
Alex Kirkland Aug 30, 2026, 02:01 PM ET
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Jude Bellingham said he's enjoying the "freedom" of a new role under coach José Mourinho after scoring in Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Málaga on Sunday.
The England star opened the scoring at the Bernabéu in the 19th minute with a low shot from the right -- and then played a key role in Madrid's second when the visitors' defence couldn't keep out his goalbound header -- to make it three wins out of three in LaLiga so far this season.
Bellingham has contributed two goals and two assists in those three games, with Mourinho praising him as an "absolutely incredible player" after Sunday's match.
"Now I'm a bit more free, with the freedom to move further up, and drop deep if we need it," Bellingham told Real Madrid TV when asked to explain his role in Mourinho's team.
"I'm enjoying it a lot. That's why I'm playing well."
Bellingham scored in Madrid's 2-1 win at Espanyol in their first game of the season, and then created two goals in their 4-1 midweek victory over Real Sociedad, before another impressive performance on Sunday.
However the midfielder voiced his disappointment at the way the game ended, after Madrid had led 3-0 after half an hour, and only added a fourth goal in the 91st minute.
Jude Belligham has made a strong start to the season for Real Madrid.Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images
"It was a great game, but the last 20 minutes were really bad, really bad," Bellingham said. "I don't know why, we weren't good."
"He's very demanding with himself, and with the rest," Mourinho said in his post-match news conference. "I like that a lot. I've told him that with my way of seeing football, I don't want to see him playing as a second left-back.
"With Benfica, when we won [against Real Madrid in the Champions League], that kept happening, Jude dropping deep on the left. He knows what he has to do. He feels comfortable doing it."
**- Champions League schedule: Real Madrid open league phase vs. Inter Milan
Bellingham received an ovation from the Bernabéu crowd when he was substituted in the 87th minute.
"It's very special, always," Bellingham said. "It's an honour to play for this club, at this stadium. The ovation was really nice."
Mourinho said he's happy with the chemistry Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior are showing on the pitch.
"Very good players want to play together," the coach said. "They want to play with people who have the same quality, the same speed of thought. Before I arrived, people said a lot 'Mou doesn't want this, or that, the three are incompatible, and I've always said I want the best players ... All I see is that they're all really good."
Coach Mourinho made five changes to his team on Sunday, with Marc Cucurella, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Díaz coming in.
"We have a really strong squad, a great team, with quality everywhere," Bellingham said.
"When the boss wants to make a change, the other [players] who didn't play the other day are ready. That's why we played so well today."
AI-assisted · generated from ESPN FC reporting, not editor reviewed
