Bellingham Sparks an Early Tactical Puzzle for Arbeloa at Real Madrid

Early tactical test for Arbeloa as Bellingham takes the field

Jude Bellingham is forcing Álvaro Arbeloa to make quick decisions at Real Madrid, with the young Englishman proving to be a central figure for the team’s plans.

Alfredo Relaño, formerly the editor of Marca, argues that the first task for Arbeloa is to find a suitable position for Bellingham on the pitch so the player’s talents can shine.

Relaño notes that when Bellingham arrived in Madrid two years ago, he was like fresh air, but in the first Mbappé season he became a tactical headache for the coaching staff.

The main issue is not Bellingham’s talent; it is his role within the system. In 2023-24 under Carlo Ancelotti, Bellingham played as a free Number 10 under a 3-midfield setup, allowing him to flourish with freedom.

With Mbappé’s arrival last season, the balance shifted. Bellingham often prefers the left flank, Vinícius Júnior also gravitates there, Kamavinga sits better on the left, and Valverde tends to favor the left as well—while Mbappé himself leans toward that side.

Relaño explains that Bellingham is not a traditional midfielder: his spark fades when there is no space to attack and break into the box.

Arbeloa has several options for Bellingham, but none are perfect: converting him into a deeper midfielder sacrifices his attacking essence, or returning him to a more advanced 10 role risks squeezing Mbappé or Vinícius.

Ultimately, Relaño believes Real Madrid will need to learn to coexist with Bellingham and tailor his abilities to the team’s tempo. If they succeed, the Englishman could become a unique piece that can adapt wherever he finds his balance.

Punchline 1: If Real Madrid’s midfield were a parking lot, Bellingham would always find a free space in the box.

Punchline 2: And if tactics fail, Arbeloa can simply blame the GPS—Goal Positioning System—it's always the “where” that trips us up.