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Newly appointed Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is reportedly planning to use Jude Bellingham in a new role in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. According to a report from Ruben Martin via Madrid Universal, Alonso wants to deploy the English superstar in a traditional midfield role.
Bellingham was mostly used as an attacking midfielder by former Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti. The 21-year-old also recorded exceptional numbers in that role, becoming a major goal threat.
The English midfielder has racked up 37 goals and 27 assists in 94 appearances for Real Madrid till date. However, Xabi Alonso reportedly believes that Bellingham could offer even more if he plays a deeper role.
Alonso is reportedly looking to implement a system which offers more balance and fluidity and therefore wants Bellingham to play as a number eight. The coaching staff also believe that the Englishman's positional shift would benefit Los Blancos on the pitch.
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Bellingham already has plenty of experience playing as a number eight from his time at Borussia Dortmund. He has also played in a double pivot for England alongside Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.
Alonso is reportedly ready to experiment with Bellingham in a new role in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. If the Englishman impresses in a deeper role, it would also save Real Madrid from the need to invest in another central midfielder.
Xabi Alonso was one of the best central midfielders of his generation and had a glittering career for club and country. He has made a name for himself in management with Bayer Leverkusen but we will have to wait and see how he fares at the Santiago Bernabeu under the spotlight.
Jude Bellingham names Real Madrid legend as his dream teammate
Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham has named Zinedine Zidane as his dream teammate. Speaking to FIFA, the Englishman hailed the former France international and named him an 'easy' pick when asked to name his dream teammate. The former Borussia Dortmund star said, as quoted by GOAL:
"[Zinedine] Zidane, easily. I'd just give him the ball and watch him really. You know, it'd be like watching YouTube up close. That'd be by far my favourite one. Mind you, I wouldn't want to play a whole season, I don't think I'd get any minutes!"
Back in 2024, Bellingham revealed that he grew up watching Zidane's clips on YouTube while speaking to Movistar. He also claimed that his father always wore Zidane's Real Madrid jersey and admitted that he feels privileged to wear Zidane's number five shirt. He said, as quoted by GOAL:
“My father always wore a Real Madrid shirt around the house with 'Zidane' on the back, which is funny because, in a way, it has come full circle. He gave it to me when I arrived here in the summer. He always wore it and I always asked him: 'Who is this guy you have on your shirt?' And he always answered: 'When you're older, we'll see him on YouTube...' And now that I'm wearing No.5, it has ended up being a quite significant story. Really special to me.”
Bellingham has been excellent for Real Madrid since joining the Spanish capital club in 2023 from Borussia Dortmund. He has already won five trophies for Los Blancos and was named La Liga Player of the Season in 2023-24.
