Jude Bellingham has defended his scoring record at Real Madrid after being asked to adapt his role following the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, while also backing Vinicius Jr during a difficult season for the Brazil forward.
The England midfielder enjoyed a blistering start to life in Spain last season, regularly finding the net from an advanced position and becoming one of Madrid’s key match-winners. This campaign has looked different, with Bellingham often operating deeper or with different responsibilities as Carlo Ancelotti’s side reshaped their attack to fit Mbappe into the team.
Bellingham has insisted the change in role has naturally affected where he picks up positions and the chances that come his way, but he pushed back against any suggestion that his output has dropped off unfairly. He stressed that his job is to help the team win, even if that means doing work that is not always reflected in goal numbers.
He also used the opportunity to praise Vinicius Jr, describing the winger as “electric and creative” and underlining how important he remains to the way Real Madrid play. Bellingham made it clear he sees Vinicius as a decisive player who can change games, even in a season that has brought added scrutiny for the Brazilian.
Despite the shifting roles around him and the attention that comes with playing alongside Mbappe, Bellingham maintained that he is comfortable with the demands being placed on him. He reiterated that the focus at Madrid is on performances and results, and that individual statistics come second to the team’s success.
