Carlo Ancelotti reveals how Real Madrid have unlocked Jude Bellingham again after rough start to the season

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has shed light on the recent surge in the goalscoring output of Jude Bellingham, who has come alive in front of goal after a quiet start to the season which saw him score zero goals in the first 12 games in all competitions. However, the Englishman has burst to form in the final third, scoring in five successive LaLiga games.

Bellingham arrived at Real Madrid in 2023, the same summer that saw the departure of club legend and then Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema. The Englishman played like a veteran in his debut season and scored an astonishing 23 goals in 42 games in all competitions, 19 of those coming in the league. Madrid clinched the league and Champions League double with the 21-year-old playing protagonist.

This season, however, with the arrival of Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham has been relieved of his goalscoring burden. Due to tactical shifts to better integrate Mbappe into the team, Ancelotti has deployed Bellingham in a relatively deeper role. The result of that was a 12-game barren spell for the former Dortmund man at the start of the season. In recent weeks, Bellingham seems to have regained his goalscoring boots, scoring five goals in as many league games.

"Not much has changed for him personally," Ancelotti told reporters when asked about the England international's recent run of form (h/t AS).

"What has changed is the dynamic of the team; now we have more mobility up top and he takes advantage of this.

"He has scored, of course, and that is important, but his attitude has remained the same."

The England international was forced to come off against Girona, evoking fear in the Real Madrid staff as well as fans about losing arguably their best player to injury. However, Ancelotti later confirmed that he was feeling some fatigue, which is why he asked to be taken off. Bellingham is expected to start on Tuesday, December 10, at Atalanta and will be keen to continue his purple patch as Los Blancos aim to rekindle their continental campaign.