Jude Bellingham facing scrutiny and told he is 'declining' due to Kylian Mbappe
Jude Bellingham enjoyed a stunning debut season with Spanish giants Real Madrid but has struggled to replicate those performances following the arrival of Kylian Mbappe at the club
by Daniel Orme · The MirrorJude Bellingham has been told that Kylian Mbappe is the main reason behind his sluggish start to the season for Real Madrid.
The England midfielder enjoyed a stunning debut campaign in Spain following a big money move from Borussia Dortmund. He scored 23 goals in total as Los Blancos won both La Liga and the Champions League.
Despite those performances putting him firmly in contention for this year’s Ballon d’Or, Bellingham has not hit the same heights so far this term. He has just two assists to his name, while he is also yet to find the back of the net.
His underwhelming start continued on Wednesday night as Real fell to a slender Champions League defeat against Lille. And the Spanish media have suggested that Bellingham’s slump is down to Mbappe’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Following the defeat to Lille, AS wrote: "In Bellingham's case, the decline is much more palpable: he has only two assists, without goals, in seven games played. Last season, after seven games, he had scored six goals.
"These figures should not be compared coldly, because his role now, since the arrival of Mbappé , is very different, but the Englishman is still looking for his best version as a midfielder, the one he offered, for example, in the second half of the European Super Cup against Atalanta.
"Ancelotti knows this, but he is going to give him all the time in the world: 'His position is the same as last year, with all the success achieved last year. Now things are not going as clearly for him, but we just have to wait.'"
Real boss Ancelotti has already given his thoughts on Bellingham’s stuttering form. And he has made it perfectly clear that he still expects the midfielder to be just as important this season despite the arrival of Mbappe.
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Speaking last month, the Italian said: "I think Jude surprised everyone last season when he started and now, he’s doing really well. He’s really mature and takes more responsibility in the squad, he’s a really important player for us. As he did last season, he’ll do the same this season."
Asked if Bellingham could still improve, Ancelotti added: "I think so. He has a lot of quality, really mature, really strong character. He’s a really important player in the squad, not only for what he did on the pitch but also the environment is really important for his personality."
Bellingham will continue his search for his first goal of the season this weekend against Villarreal. He will also get a chance to build up his form in Lee Carsley’s latest England squad for upcoming games against Greece and Finland.
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