Jude Bellingham is back to his electrifying best, and this time, he’s doing it under the tactical guidance of Jose Mourinho. The 23-year-old English midfielder has hit the ground running in the 2026-27 season, registering two goals and three assists in Real Madrid’s flawless 3-0 start. But what’s changed? The answer lies in Mourinho’s system and the freedom it affords Bellingham.


A Role Tailored for Brilliance

In his debut 2023-24 campaign, Bellingham dazzled as a goal-scoring midfielder, netting 23 goals en route to La Liga and Champions League glory. However, the following two seasons saw him dip in form, weighed down by a deeper defensive role and persistent injuries, including shoulder surgery in 2025 and a hamstring layoff that sidelined him for 10 matches in 2026.


Now fully fit and firing, Bellingham has been repositioned by Mourinho as a number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 setup, operating just behind Kylian Mbappé. This shift has liberated him from the defensive drudgery that previously saw him tracking back like a “second left-back,” as Mourinho himself admitted.

“I made a deal with him,” Mourinho said after a 4-0 win over Málaga. “I do not want to see that anymore.”


Tactical Freedom, Maximum Impact

The new structure allows Bellingham to receive between the lines, drive forward, link with attackers, and time his runs into the box with precision. Mourinho’s philosophy is clear: “For me, this is his position… I like this Jude.”

Bellingham echoes the sentiment: “I feel more free to decide when to drop back, when to stay up or when to get into the box.” While pressing remains part of his duties, it now starts higher up the pitch, keeping him closer to the action and in sync with Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior.


Mourinho stresses unity: “The team dynamic is about 11, not 2+9.” This collective mindset has fostered early chemistry, with the Portuguese coach hailing Bellingham as a “unique and super important player”, even suggesting he deserves Ballon d’Or consideration.


Fun, Form, and Future

Bellingham’s World Cup heroics for England, seven goals in eight games under Thomas Tuchel, clearly boosted his confidence. Now, with Mourinho’s backing, he’s rediscovering the joy that fueled his breakthrough season.

“I’m having a lot of fun, really enjoying my football,” he said. If this trajectory holds, 2026-27 could be Bellingham’s finest yet.