Bellingham is a new challenge for Arbeloa

Alvaro Arbeloa emphasized that Jude Bellingham's return gives him a "pleasant headache," but in the long term, this could be a problem for Real Madrid in the final stretch of the season.

Last season and the first half of this season, Bellingham was a puzzle that neither Carlo Ancelotti nor Xabi Alonso could solve. The English midfielder missed 16 matches in the 2025-26 season due to injury, and Real Madrid won 14 of those. Thiago Pitarch or Arda Guler would have to give up their spot for him.

"A pleasant headache"

Bellingham's return brings a "pleasant headache" for Arbeloa. That was his response when asked about the upcoming situation, before entering his first Madrid derby as a coach – which concluded early this morning. The Real Madrid captain had found his ideal midfield quartet of Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, Thiago Pitarch, and Arda Guler. This was proven by four consecutive victories (excluding the derby), including two matches against Man City in the Champions League quarter-finals.

However, Bellingham's return from the derby in La Liga round 29 raises many questions. After the international break, Jude is certainly a key player. From then on, the story of his position and role once again becomes the focus. Who will Arbeloa have to drop to accommodate the English midfielder? Where and how to use Bellingham is precisely that "pleasant puzzle."

In reality, this has not been an easy season for the former Dortmund midfielder. Over the past year and a half, since Ancelotti's final season, he has not fully rediscovered himself, similar to Real Madrid itself. After his explosive first season winning La Liga and the Champions League, scoring 23 goals, providing 13 assists, and finishing 3rd in the Ballon d'Or race, since the summer of 2024, when Toni Kroos retired and Kylian Mbappe joined, Bellingham's form has become inconsistent.

"Hey Jude" appears less frequently at the Bernabeu. He ended last season with 14 goals, 15 assists, and moments of brilliance, but there were also times when his free-roaming position disrupted the team's balance. Vinicius Junior and Mbappe pushed high, while Bellingham – pulled deeper with expectations to replace Kroos – played closer to them rather than linking with Tchouameni, Valverde, or Guler. This stretched the formation, contributing to heavy defeats at key moments in both domestic and European competitions.

Bellingham, affected by a shoulder injury and playing with protective bandages since November 2023, maintained fairly impressive personal statistics but could not regain his initial footballing feeling, the phase where Ancelotti likened him to a blend of Zinedine Zidane and Kaka. He decided to undergo surgery after the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup to resolve the issue definitively, missing the first 5 matches of the season – all victories under Xabi Alonso. Later, he spent two more matches on the bench. His first start of the new season under Alonso, ironically, was the crushing 2-5 defeat to Atletico at the Metropolitano.

The question of balance

Not only that, Bellingham also started in the defeat at Liverpool, the draws against Rayo Vallecano, Elche, and Girona, along with losses to Man City (group stage) and Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu, and the Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona – the loss that ended Alonso's brief reign.

Bellingham also played the full 90 minutes in the 2-4 defeat to Benfica in Lisbon, Arbeloa's second Champions League match, which prevented Real Madrid from reaching the Top 8. Of course, not only him, many other players featured in those matches, but notably, the presence of Bellingham alongside Vinicius and Mbappe – with a role straddling between a false striker and an attacking midfielder – greatly affected how "Los Blancos" occupied space. This issue has remained unresolved for over a year and a half.

During his most recent injury, Bellingham missed 10 matches, Real Madrid won 8 and lost 2. Recently, after two consecutive defeats in La Liga – the worst result since 2019 – Arbeloa saved himself by bringing Thiago Pitarch into the starting lineup. Pitarch's arrival added defensive discipline and clarity in roles, helping the team operate better and more balanced. Therefore, Arbeloa dismissed the notion that Bellingham's return means Pitarch loses his starting spot. He stated he still needs the contribution of this 18-year-old player, who surprisingly was not called up to the Spain U21 team.

"They can play together. Both must understand what they have understood in recent matches: everyone attacks and defends," Arbeloa declared. "I must find the best position and role for them, but if 11 players don't work together, any opponent will make you suffer," he emphasized, repeating the phrase "pleasant headache." Arbeloa added about the key to eliminating Man City for the fourth time in the last five seasons: "Put all their talent to serve the collective." When Bellingham regains fitness, the most feasible option is for Guler to be on the bench.

Between shoulder surgery and muscle issues over the past month and a half, Bellingham has only played 1,974 minutes. He wants to accelerate, establish his role in Arbeloa's Real Madrid to secure a starting spot in the two Champions League quarter-finals against Bayern Munich, and solidify his position in the England squad heading towards the 2026 World Cup.