Footage has surfaced online showing Jude Bellingham offering advice to his Real Madrid teammates, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, following their disappointing 1-1 draw against Mallorca on Sunday.
The match, which saw Real Madrid drop points in their LaLiga opener, sparked a conversation among the star players about what went wrong.
Rodrygo got Real Madrid off to a promising start by scoring in the 13th minute, but Mallorca quickly responded with an equalizer from Vedat Muriqi shortly after halftime.
Despite Real Madrid’s efforts to find a winning goal, they struggled to break down Mallorca’s defense. Adding to their frustration, Ferland Mendy received a red card deep into stoppage time, leaving the team with ten men.
The draw has raised questions about how Mbappe, who recently joined Real Madrid, fits into Carlo Ancelotti’s lineup alongside Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo.
Mbappe’s move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid was highly anticipated, but concerns remain about how the star-studded attack will gel, especially since Mbappe previously clashed with PSG managers over his position on the field.
Bellingham, who excelled in the No. 10 role during his first season at Real Madrid, may now need to adjust his position to accommodate Mbappe and the other forwards.
After the match, Bellingham expressed his frustration with his teammates’ decision-making in the final third.
In a conversation captured by Movistar, Bellingham urged the trio to take their chances and shoot rather than lose possession, which forces him to track back and help the defense. “You three, we need to finish the attack because the running back… is f***ing hard,” Bellingham said.
Mbappe agreed with Bellingham, adding, “That’s what I’m saying. We have to finish with something.” Bellingham further emphasized the need to create space and take shots whenever possible.
Mallorca’s goal came after Real Madrid lost possession, leading to a counterattack that resulted in a corner and Muriqi’s powerful header past Thibaut Courtois.
Ancelotti, speaking after the match, highlighted the importance of balance within the team. “Balance is found when players think the same when they have to win the ball back.
We have to all go together,” he said, acknowledging that the entire team, not just the forwards, needed to improve in this area.
The draw leaves Real Madrid in 12th place after the first weekend of LaLiga, while their rivals Barcelona secured a 2-1 win over Valencia. Robert Lewandowski scored twice for Barcelona after Valencia took the lead through Hugo Duro.
Off the pitch, Bellingham recently signed a major deal with Louis Vuitton, posing for the luxury brand ahead of the new season. The fashion house described Bellingham as a “Friend of the House,” marking another milestone in the young midfielder’s rising career.
As Real Madrid look to bounce back from their underwhelming start, the focus will be on how well their star players can gel and deliver results in the coming weeks.
