Bellingham under the microscope: his role as second striker questioned

Jude Bellingham's role at Real Madrid was called into question after the MD2 group stage match of the UEFA Champions League against AS Roma, played on October 14 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. The analysis of his performance suggests that his contribution is based more on pressure and the goal than on chance creation.

Statistics that blur the myth of the number 10

According to data from madridstats, Bellingham is in twelfth place on the La Liga created chances table with 14, far behind Arda Güler, who leads with 28. Regarding big chances, the Englishman records 4 compared to Güler's 10, and his xA (expected assists) is 1.6, almost half of Güler's 3.5.

Comparison with his teammates

At Real Madrid, Bellingham is the second top scorer, tied with Carlos Espi at 3 goals, surpassing his xG of 2.7. However, Kylian Mbappé continues to lead in all offensive metrics, while Arda Güler has created more chances than Vini Jr and Mbappé combined (31 versus 26). Roy Keane commented on Twitter that Bellingham "can become one of the best players of all time", although the analysis suggests that his value lies more in finishing than in playmaking.

The Daily Merengue, a site that hosts football discussion, warns readers not to be alarmed by the obvious bias in favor of Real Madrid, reminding that the outlet's name already indicates it. The post also mentions Juninho among the moderators who keep the forum active.

The author of the text acknowledges that, although Bellingham is not a traditional number 10, his work rate and late runs into the box remain crucial. However, he raises the question of whether the team would not gain more creativity with another player in midfield, given that chance creation seems to depend on Arda Güler.

The debate remains open: should Real Madrid reposition Bellingham in a more advanced role or look for a true playmaker? The answer will depend on the upcoming Champions matches and how the team's chemistry evolves.