Jude Bellingham thriving in freer Real Madrid role under Jose Mourinho

Jude Bellingham says he is grateful for the trust shown by Jose Mourinho after the England international made an impressive start to Real Madrid’s 2026-27 campaign in a more flexible midfield role.

Bellingham scored against Espanyol on the opening day of the season and then supplied two assists in the victory over Real Sociedad, helping Los Blancos win their first two league matches.

The 23-year-old believes Mourinho’s tactical approach has given him greater freedom to influence games and rediscover his best form.

“I feel more free again, more free to decide when to drop back, when to stay up or when to get into the box,” he said.

“I think this is the best position for me, the one that allows me to show all my qualities. I’m really grateful to the coach for trusting me to play this way.”

Bellingham has been among Real Madrid’s strongest performers during the opening weeks of the season, but he was keen to stress the contribution of his team-mates.

Reflecting on one of the goals created against Real Sociedad, he said Kylian Mbappe’s movement was decisive.

“It was more about instinct in truth. I think Kylian’s movement is what made the goal; all I had to do was put the ball in a good area for him,” he said.

“And since he’s so fast, he catches most balls, and his finish was brilliant too. For both goals, their movement made the difference.

“I still had some energy left in the match, and we were going through a good moment where everyone was full of adrenaline and we were pressing excellently.

“My shot was saved and I wanted to press high to win it back, and I think that’s one of the most important things in football when you lose the ball; to try to win it back as quickly as possible.

“I dribbled and Vinicius was there, so I passed it to him and he gave me a big hug saying ‘thanks,’ and that’s all there was to it.”

The England midfielder also highlighted the importance of Real Madrid’s strong start, with their fixture schedule set to become more demanding when the Champions League begins.

“It’s very important to build momentum. Now we have a tough stretch with the start of the Champions League, the matches are piling up and it’s good to have made a good start,” he said.

Real Madrid have several new arrivals to integrate into the squad, making their early victories particularly valuable as Mourinho’s side prepares for a busier period.

“A lot of new people have arrived, they have to settle in, and we have to keep going like this.

“We’re in a good moment and everyone has the adrenaline flowing. We’re pressing well, and one of the most important things is recovering the ball quickly when you lose it.”

The opening two wins have given Real Madrid early momentum before the Champions League adds to the demands on the squad. Bellingham’s performances, meanwhile, suggest he is adapting positively to the freedom afforded to him by Mourinho.