The England international is on his way to the Santiago Bernabeu, but there is no guarantee he'll be first-choice for Los Blancos…
Jude Bellingham is officially a Real Madrid player. The deal agreed with Borussia Dortmund will see the Spanish side pay an initial €103 million (£88.5m/$110.3m), though that figure could rise by a further €30m (£26m/$32m) if certain targets are met.
In truth, we were always likely to get here, especially after Liverpool pulled out of the race over a month ago. Madrid can offer one of the most promising young sides in world football, a world-class manager, and an intangible prestige that comes with playing in that famous white kit. Bellingham will be part of a team that will be expected to win La Liga every year, and serially contend for the Champions League. He will have the opportunity to learn from legends such as Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
As an individual, he will raise his profile, and assert himself as one of the best in the world while playing for one of the biggest clubs around. On paper, and presumably, in reality, this should all work out wonderfully.
But there are some specifics to be figured out here. Madrid have at least five starting-calibre midfielders already, as well as a presumptive No.10 if the manager switches to a different system. There is also an irresistible balance to their midfield. Indeed, Madrid's second-placed La Liga finish cannot be blamed on their aptitude in the middle third of the pitch.
So, there's no obvious fit for the Englishman. He will, in all likelihood, have to push one of Kroos or Modric out of the side, and perhaps overtake the exciting Fede Valverde in the pecking order. These are simple decisions in the long term, but Madrid is a club that does not look beyond the present.
This will all work out, but how, exactly will, it everything fit together? GOAL takes a look at where Bellingham can, can't and might play for Los Blancos next season…
(C)Getty ImagesThe positional oddities
Footballers are rarely a 'perfect fit' at clubs. Despite the good vibes that come with the intensifying rumour mill and anticipation of fans – as well as the enumerate internet tactical geniuses on Twitter – football is more complicated than that.
There are some exceptions. Harry Kane, Karim Benzema, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe could all arguably walk into any front line with few qualms. Modric and Kevin De Bruyne will fit into any midfield.
But most players are moulded to a system. Lionel Messi as a false nine for Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo as a central striker for Real Madrid and Mohamed Salah as an inside forward for Liverpool all spring to mind.
And that could be a problem for Bellingham. Certainly, he has the talent to be a success at the Bernabeu; he is already one of the best midfielders in the world. But he is also, at the moment, a very specific type of footballer. He is an elite ball-carrier and low-volume passer who likes to burst into the final third and create from advanced positions.
This is all very un-Madrid. Bellingham, for this team, is not simply a plug-and-play footballer. Still, there are some configurations that could get the best out of him right away.
AdvertisementGetty Images4-3-3 with Modric and Camavinga
If there ever was a seasoned midfielder for Bellingham to learn from, it's Modric. Although the two are markedly different in terms of physical profile, they share some similarities in playing style. Both are aggressive dribblers who like to beat a man, both like to play forward, and both thrive in the final third.
The pair in midfield would be a deadly duo. Bellingham could do all of his ball progression work, while Modric could serve as the connective tissue in between. Add Eduardo Camavinga as the No.6 and this appears to be the most balanced iteration of the Madrid midfield.
It would, admittedly, mean sacrificing Kroos. The German is still an excellent passer, but his defensive weaknesses are becoming a real issue, while his goalscoring output has declined. It would be unlike Ancelotti to do such a thing, but this trio appears to be Madrid's best.
Getty Images4-3-3 with Kroos and Modric
Bellingham famously inherited the No.22 shirt due to his ability to play as a No.4, No.8 or No.10. And while he certainly has the skillset to operate in all three positions, Bellingham's best attributes are perhaps wasted as a defensive midfielder.
Modric certainly isn't one, either. The Croatian, although still a midfield maestro, struggles to play 90 minutes anymore, and has started to become a defensive weakness for Los Blancos. Kroos, too, is not a true No.6 in the mould that Madrid ideally needs.
But perhaps that doesn't matter. This trio would be so dominant on the ball that even some light work off it would suffice. With Modric and Kroos pinging it around and Bellingham getting into more advanced positions, this would immediately be one of the most exciting midfields in the world.
Getty Images4-3-3 with Valverde and Tchouameni
As good as Modric and Kroos are, both are in the twilight of their careers. They simply cannot be relied on to play twice, or even three times, per week while in their mid-to-late-30s. Ancelotti has shown as such this year, with Modric, in particular, seeing his Liga minutes plummet – especially towards the end of the campaign.
It is a good thing, then, that Madrid have two other promising midfield prospects. Valverde has enjoyed a breakout season, contributing goals at a far higher rate and establishing himself as a regular – albeit mostly on the right wing. But the natural midfielder figures to slide back into the middle of the park soon enough.
Tchouameni, meanwhile, was last summer's big-money signing and looks set to be Madrid's defensive midfielder of the future. These three will presumably be part of Los Blancos' set-up for years to come, and although they may not all play together immediately, it would be a surprise if Ancelotti doesn't test them out together over the course of next season.
