And Bellingham returned. Maybe it never went away, but it did wane. That was evident. He lost spark, presence and, above all, goal. Surprise ingredient that, months later, continues to surprise. What an arrival, what a hit. A midfielder was signed, but a goalscorer landed… until 2024, when the water settled. Bellingham went into a spin and ‘Hey Jude’ turned into ‘Help!’. Something was wrong. But it was a matter of time. And it was in the Classic where he met again and completed his work. Checkmate to Barça. His particular cake is served but, if he has ambitions, he could use a cherry on top: being a First Class Pichichi. Six games separate him from glory.
His performance in the Classic was a full-fledged redemption, culminated with the ecstasy of a goal in stoppage time. With it, Jude became the third Real Madrid player to score in his first two appearances in a Clásico – in the League – in the 21st Century, after Ronaldo Nazário in 2003 (two) and Van Nistelrooy in 2007 (three). Despite finishing absolutely exhausted in Manchester, he started and played the entire game. He was the Madrid player who finished the most between the three sticks (2), the one who dribbled the most (3), the one who made the most successful tackles (4) and the third in offensive passes (17). With 60 interventions, he surpassed men like Kroos (50) or Vinicius (44). Everything, to culminate with a 95.6% pass success rate, the second best figure on the team (only Kroos could improve that spectacular record, with 97.6%).
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Bellingham celebrates his goal against Barcelona in the Clásico.Real Madrid
I needed a night like this
Bellingham, who received the Laureus award this Monday, left the Bernabéu full of joy, hugged by his teammates, leading the party in the locker room and enjoying himself on social media. “Lucas Vázquez, you are a fucking legend”, he wrote on his X account (formerly Twitter). His colleagues reported that she had never lost her smile, but it was evident that she clearly needed a night like this. Unleash the roar of the Bernabéu again, swim with the band among the sea of merriment, open our arms… and return to the central circle while 80,000 people sing ‘Hey Jude’. A protocol that is already a ceremony in Chamartín. And that had not happened since February 10, the night against Girona (4-0). Where she got injured. Where everything changed.
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“That injury slowed me down (high grade sprain against Girona). I played many games off and overcame enormous discomfort. And when I return, in Valencia, I score a great goal and they sanction me. Well, I don’t know, maybe it has affected my competitive rhythm, because I came from always playing and, suddenly, you stop,” he acknowledged at the Etihad. Since then, Bellingham has traversed a path of some yellow bricks, but many orange ones. Curved and cobbled. His drought (only three goals in 2024, until the Classic) set off the alarms. But Barcelona arrived… and came back. Just as happened in Montjuïc, she was his executioner. His worst nightmare. It’s early to draw definitive conclusions, but it seems like he has the measure taken.
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Bellingham blows a kiss to the stands after the game against Barcelona.OSCAR DEL POZOAFP
‘Pichichi Objective’
Bellingham has six league games left and has one wish: to be top scorer. His recent left foot strike has placed him second in the race, author of 17 goals. But in this edition of the award, extraordinary not only because of the tightness, but also because of the unorthodox names that caress for glory, he wants to stand out. Right now the leader is Dovbyk, who is one ahead of him (18 goals), but behind the Englishman are Budimir (16, but he just broke three ribs, so he has a difficult time), Sörloth (15) and Mayoral (15). They are the big favorites. The Englishman, with 21 in total, aims to win the individual trophy in his first year. If Ancelotti likes the proverb, he can recommend one: ‘Arrive and kiss the saint’. He has it within an inch. He wants it. Bellingham, he’s back.
2024-04-22 21:43:45
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