How 'unique' Bellingham is thriving in Mourinho's system — SkimNews
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- Bellingham has registered 2 goals and 3 assists in Real Madrid's first 3 La Liga games, helping the club win all three to start the season under returning boss Mourinho.
- Mourinho has deployed Bellingham as a number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 system behind Kylian Mbappe, telling him "I do not want to see" him defending like "a second left-back" again.
- Bellingham scored 23 goals in his 2023-24 debut Real campaign but saw his output dip in a deeper role, compounded by 2025 shoulder surgery and a 2026 hamstring issue that kept him out 10 matches.
- Bellingham scored 7 goals and added 1 assist in 8 World Cup appearances for England, a form surge Mourinho cited as the template for getting the best out of him.
- Mourinho called Bellingham "unique and super important" and suggested the midfielder belongs in Ballon d'Or contention.
Why it matters: Real Madrid's tactical reset under Mourinho has freed Bellingham from the deep-lying defensive workload that blunted his last two injury-hit seasons, and with five goal contributions in three La Liga games the England midfielder is already being publicly placed in Ballon d'Or contention.
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