Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham aiming for Man City redemption
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Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham reacts after being shown a red card in the Spanish La Liga match against Osasuna.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MADRID – Jude Bellingham edged Real Madrid 3-2 ahead in their Champions League play-off against Manchester City on Feb 11 with his stoppage-time winner, but his week then swiftly took a turn for the worse.
The England international was sent off in the first half as Los Blancos dropped two points in the Spanish La Liga title race at Osasuna on Feb 15.
The midfielder will at least be fresh for the second-leg clash with City at the Santiago Bernabeu on Feb 19, with Real holding a slim lead in the tie after their victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Bellingham felt that he had let his side down with his dismissal for dissent, despite insisting that the referee misunderstood him, and he apologised to his teammates.
All will be forgiven if he helps pull Real past Pep Guardiola’s City again and into the last 16.
“Enough said about the misunderstanding, just wanted to apologise again for leaving my teammates in such a tough position and thank the fans for their support and understanding,” wrote Bellingham on social media.
“We will see each other on Wednesday, (playing) at home.”
It was his second red card for arguing with referees since arriving in Spain from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2023.
Despite his occasional frustration with officials, the 21-year-old has mostly been able to enjoy himself and more crucially, his football in Spain.
His goals were vital as Real won La Liga last season, and he helped his side claim their record-extending 15th Champions League trophy at Wembley, against his former side Dortmund.
Bellingham was previously linked with City but, on arrival in Madrid, said that once the Spanish giants came in for him, he got “goosebumps” and that his heart nearly stopped.
“I’d always been aware of the interest from England, so that was pretty normal,” the former Birmingham City player said after joining.
“Money is not a thing for me. I don’t think about money at all when I make these kind of decisions. I never have and will – I play the game purely out of love.
“It wasn’t a case of other teams are bad or they weren’t good but, for me, Madrid is the greatest.”
In his fairy-tale first season, Bellingham scored 23 goals in 43 games across all competitions, as well as converting a penalty in the Champions League quarter-final shoot-out which Real won against City.
To coach Carlo Ancelotti’s delight, he has often shone in key matches.
He scored important goals in both league Clasicos against Barcelona last season, and in both games against Girona, who for most of the season were Real’s main title contenders.
In the Champions League, he set up Brazil forward Vinicius Junior for a goal in the final against Dortmund, as well as scoring four times in the group stage.
This season, operating in a slightly more withdrawn role following the arrival of French superstar Kylian Mbappe, he initially found it harder to find his spark in attack.
In his debut season, Bellingham scored 10 goals in his first 10 matches for Real. But his first goal this term came only in November.
However, Ancelotti backed the midfielder to come good and praised his hard work in a defensive capacity.
Eventually, Bellingham’s nose for goal returned and he has now scored 11 times this season. The most recent of those strikes came in the 92nd minute against City to snatch the advantage for Real.
The days since have been tumultuous but, by the time the Champions League anthem is ringing out at the Bernabeu, Bellingham’s mind will be focused on getting the job done. AFP
