Mourinho Es: Jude Bellingham returns to Real Madrid with dream

Jude Bellingham stepped onto the Santiago Bernabéu pitch, the Merengue’s home, fresh from England’s World Cup campaign, and immediately fell under Mourinho Es’s guidance, the Portuguese manager who now oversees his training. The midfielder expressed his excitement, calling it a dream to work with the veteran coach, and vowed to earn his place in the squad ahead of the season.

He was photographed returning to the club (photo: REUTER) and became the last member of the squad to join preseason after completing the Mundial with Inglaterra. En the training sessions, Bellingham was welcomed by teammates and began adapting to the new routine under José Mourinho’s direction.

Enthusiastic return to Real Madrid

“It is a dream for me to work with a coach like Mourinho. I feel a connection with him,” Bellingham said in an official club interview, adding that he had only seen the manager once before but was eager to learn. Con his words, he highlighted the special motivation of sharing a dressing room with the Portuguese tactician and emphasized that his recent experience has made him a bit more mature.

The English midfielder also noted, “I am ready to return and compete with my Real Madrid teammates. I hope we can win,” underscoring his optimism for the upcoming campaign. Para the new project, he believes his increased experience will help him contribute positively, especially with the recent signings that have strengthened the squad.

Mourinho's tactical vision

Mourinho plans to deploy Bellingham as a mediapunta, positioned behind Kylian Mbappé, granting him freedom to roam the attacking third. He aims to exploit Bellingham’s knack for arriving in the box and influencing play near the opponent’s goal, a trait that shone during the midfielder’s first season in Madrid.

However, competition is fierce. Arda Güler, who logged the most minutes in preparation, emerges as a viable alternative for the role, meaning Bellingham must regain full fitness to secure his place. The Portuguese coach recalls that, when Bellingham was 17 at Borussia Dortmund, he compared the youngster to Frank Lampard, praising his defensive work rate and offensive potential.

Now, years later, both coach and player will test that early assessment. The challenge for Mourinho is to integrate Bellingham’s versatility into a squad rich with attacking options, while the midfielder’s mission is to re‑establish himself as a decisive element of Real Madrid’s ambitions.