He’s not Bruce Springsteen, he’s Jewish Victor William Bellingham. The England star has become a Real Madrid leader, culminating in his leadership on the pitch over the last month and a half. Bellingham is the new boss of Madrid and is aiming to gain the upper hand. hinted at by his recent references to Elvis Presley – a subtle salute to greatness.

Bellingham’s performance is nothing short of spectacular. He scored six goals on just six shots in his last six games demonstrates his tireless appetite and precision on the field. He was the savior for Madrid, opening the 2-0 lead against Getafe with a penalty that took the pressure off Mbappé and secured the 3-0 win at Montilivi. The 3-0 win at Butarque would have made no sense without his hungry and intelligent ball stealing, which enabled Mbappé’s first goal.

This intensity is not an isolated case. Bellingham has so far won the most defensive duels in the team (70, two more than Rüdiger). With 14, he has the most ball recoveries in the final third – the most dangerous area for the opponent. In addition, he has covered the most distance this Champions League season with 59 kilometers (just behind Rüdiger with 58.2). Goals, assists, key games – Bellingham is there everywhere and for everyone.

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His teammates value his contributions. Mbappé marveled and said: “It’s unbelievable” after watching his teammate’s performance against Girona. Both Ancelotti and Bellingham show no signs of the frustration that prevailed at the start of the season. Bellingham’s rocky start was due to two entirely different issues that combined to disrupt the No. 5’s harmony. The 2023/24 season ended with physical exhaustion, and reaching the European Championship final with England extended that strain and shortened valuable rest days.

He appeared as a Rocket at the European Super Cup in Warsaw on August 14 and returned as MVP. However, this peak could not be supported in the long term by an optimal summer training program. His defensive skills were always intense, but were not enough to dominate the opponent’s area.

The other challenge for the Brit was tactical limitations. When Mbappé joined the team, Ancelotti gave Bellingham roles that took him away from his previous hunting grounds. This all culminated in the Clasico, where he acted almost like a double right-back to support Lucas against Raphinha. Once he was “freed” against Osasuna, there was no turning back for him.

Bellingham is loved by the club

Internally, Madrid is more than enthusiastic about Jude. Almost all expectations associated with his signing were met and exceeded. He was considered a “strategic recruit,” a designation reserved for players who played a pivotal role both on the field and in the media.

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This aspect is significant. When Jude was introduced as a Madrid player on June 15, 2023, he had 11.3 million Instagram followers. A year and a half later, it has tripled that number to 37.7 million and counting – a potential that seems limitless. His celebration, commemorating Christ the Redeemer in Rio, is one of the most iconic gestures in world football.

And he is preparing to become a future captain. At Montilivi another example of Judah’s leadership emerged. During the game, he reprimanded Güler for a poor decision by the Turkish player, but then provided a brilliant assist. When both were substituted and sat on the bench, Bellingham hugged his teammate and celebrated with him, which made Güler visibly happy.

Loved, respected and deadly, Bellingham activated his leadership style.

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