Bellingham says greater freedom is driving Real Madrid form after Malaga win

Jude Bellingham says the freedom to move between attacking and deeper positions has been central to his excellent form for Real Madrid this season, after helping them beat Malaga 4-0 in La Liga.

The England midfielder opened the scoring with an impressive finish and played a decisive part in Real Madrid’s second goal. Bellingham headed a cross towards goal, with Malaga goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero turning the ball into his own net.

Bellingham was given a warm reception by the Bernabeu crowd when he left the pitch, with supporters applauding his performance. Speaking in comments reported by Marca, he said the freedom afforded to him by the team had made a significant difference.

“I feel more free now, because I have the freedom to drop back and play in an advanced or deeper position depending on what is needed. I am really enjoying playing, and that is the secret behind my good performances.”

The 22-year-old also expressed his appreciation for the welcome he received from the home fans.

“It is a great honour to play for this club, in this stadium and with these fans. The applause was wonderful.”

Despite his contribution to a convincing victory, Bellingham said he was not entirely satisfied with Real Madrid’s performance. He was particularly critical of the final stages of the match.

“It was a great game, but the last 20 minutes were really bad. I do not know why, but it was not good. Are there changes to the line-up? We have a very strong team, a great team with quality in every position, and when the coach wants to make changes, the players who did not play in the previous game are fully ready.”

Bellingham has returned to a more forceful attacking role this season and has become an important part of Real Madrid’s forward play alongside Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe. His goalscoring, movement and ability to contribute in several areas have helped drive the team at the start of the campaign.

Mourinho praised Bellingham’s influence before the match against Malaga, describing him as a player with a rare combination of qualities.

“He is a unique player and extremely important to the team. He has a variety of talents, from the physical to the mental and tactical. He is also capable of winning the ball back, pressing effectively and scoring goals, especially from aerial situations. He is an amazing player in every sense.”

Bellingham’s display against Malaga underlined the range of responsibilities he can handle for Real Madrid. He contributed directly to the scoreline, supported the team’s attacking moves and continued to operate with the positional flexibility he says has allowed him to enjoy his football more this season.

However, his comments also highlighted the standards expected inside the Real Madrid squad, with the midfielder insisting that a strong result did not completely disguise a poor final period.