Tension at Real Madrid: Bellingham and Mbappé’s Rivalry Brewing?

Kylian Mbappé’s arrival at Real Madrid brought excitement to the club’s management and fanbase, but it seems to have caused ripples within the squad. According to reports, last season's breakout star, Jude Bellingham, isn’t too pleased with the new dynamic, which has seen his role shift as Mbappé takes center stage.

2024/25 Spain - La Liga: Results & Standings

Spanish outlet Marca highlights that Bellingham, who was Real Madrid’s top scorer last season with 23 goals across all competitions, has yet to find the net this season, managing just two assists so far. His dip in output is largely attributed to a tactical change introduced by manager Carlo Ancelotti. While Bellingham played a more attacking role last season, he has now been pushed deeper into a supporting position to accommodate Mbappé’s presence up front.

Reportedly, Bellingham is unhappy with this new setup and plans to raise the issue with Ancelotti. However, the Real Madrid boss doesn’t see it as a problem, praising the English midfielder’s work ethic: "He’s been incredible—always working, competing, and sacrificing himself for the team. His goal tally has dropped compared to last year, but that’s not surprising. Last season was a pleasant anomaly, where he scored more goals than anyone expected, and it helped us tremendously. But we’ve always had players who can score, and we’ll continue to, thanks to the talent we have. What’s more important now is the work Jude does for the team."

As the season unfolds, this shift in roles within the squad could be one of the key storylines to watch, with Real Madrid looking to balance the contributions of its two stars, Bellingham and Mbappé.

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