Jude Bellingham is always the answer! England star backed to fill problematic role at Real Madrid that Cristiano Ronaldo once occupied – with Blancos paying the penalty at present

The Blancos have missed all three of the spot-kicks that they have been awarded in the 2023-24 campaign, with Rodrygo, Joselu and Luka Modric fluffing their lines from 12 yards. Another passing of that baton may now be in the offing, with head coach Carlo Ancelotti unable to explain the struggles.

Bellingham would be an obvious man to turn to, with the 20-year-old midfielder having registered 16 goals through a stunning start to life at Santiago Bernabeu. He has been rewriting the history books in the Spanish capital, and could boost his tally even more were he to inherit penalty-taking responsibility.

Spanish media outlet AS have carried out a poll asking Real supporters who they want to step up next, with Bellingham topping that chart with 60 per cent of the vote – with Brazil international Rodrygo languishing a long way behind on 15 per cent.

If Bellingham were to become the Blancos’ new penalty taker, then he would follow in the footsteps of club legends such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos. Portuguese superstar Ronaldo converted 79 of the 92 penalties that he took for Real, while former skipper Ramos hit the net with 22 of his 23 efforts. Karim Benzema also boasted an impressive return of 32 goals from 37 spot-kicks, with Real having now missed 11 of their last 37.