If I Could… with Jude Bellingham

If I Could… with Jude Bellingham

If I Could… with Jude Bellingham
By: Ardit Lipa | October 9, 2023 11:19 am
1506

Jude Bellingham is living life at Real Madrid this season.

With 10 goals & 3 assists in his first 10 games for Real Madrid, the English midfielder has managed to make himself the fan favorite and one of the best world’s best.

The English midfielder had a game before going on International Duty, answering to “If I could” questions. In an article written by

1) If I could…play alongside one player from the history of world football, it would be…

…Zinedine Zidane. I would just give him the ball all the time and let him do what he wants. He was a little bit before my time but playing midfield growing up, that’s all anyone talked about. People would say ‘you have to watch Zidane, you have to watch Zidane…’ and since then I have watched loads of footage of him and every time I am blown away.

2) If I could…improve one part of my game today, it would be…

…that I would love to be naturally both-footed. I really like seeing players like Ousmane Dembele and other players who can take corners from both sides and things like that.

3) If I could…take one part of an England team-mate’s game, it would be…

… Kyle Walker’s speed. I think the game would be a lot easier and a lot more fun if you were that quick, being able to drive past people like that.

4) If I could…go back to one event in history, it would be…

… a big sporting event like when England won the World Cup. If I could live one day again when I was alive, I would say the League Cup final with Birmingham versus Arsenal. I was so young, but I still remember that being a great day. I just think I’d appreciate it more now. I went to Wembley to watch it but I was so young that now I can’t really tell you stuff that happened in the game. When I watch it, I remember little snippets but I would love to live through that again.

5) If I could…change one thing about the world, it would be…

…for everyone to be more peaceful and nicer to each other.

6) If I could…give my eight-year-old self one bit of advice, it would be…

…to just keep being yourself. Not just football-wise but in everything you do. Just be yourself.

7) If I could…speak to that child who is considering joining their local team but isn’t sure, I would tell them…

…to do whatever makes them happy. Play in the positions that make you happy, play in the teams that make you happy and if you don’t find happiness, then don’t force yourself. In life, just do what makes you happy.

8) If I could…only eat one item of food for the rest of my life, it would be…

…chicken, because you can do so much with it.

9) If I could…choose who would play me in the film of my life story, it would be…

…Denzel Washington, if he was a bit younger, 100 per cent.

10) If I could…have a second dream job, it would be…

…something to do with football still. I would probably be a sports journalist or something like that.

11) If I could…be one person for a day, it would be…

…someone like LeBron James. Someone who is the absolute best at something.

Ancelotti decides the starting GK for Champions League final

Ancelotti decides the starting GK for Champions League final
By: Ardit Lipa | May 16, 2024 4:14 pm
537

Courtois’ return early has risen a big dilemma for Carlo Ancelotti on deciding who will be the starting XI in the UEFA Champions League final between the Belgian GK & Andriy Lunin, who has gone through a marvelous season in 2023/24.

Thibaut Courtois suffered an injury during preseason, a hard ACL injury that forced him to be out of the field until March. Then, when he retuned to full team training – Courtois suffered another injury that forced him to be until early May.

Courtois returned to action vs Cadiz at the Santiago Bernabéu, and since has played also vs Granada & Alaves, not conceding a single goal and making 10 saves in the last outing vs Alaves.

In the other hand, Lunin has had an amazing season so far – having a record of 9 saves vs Leipzig and being Real Madrid’s hero vs Manchester City in the penalty shoutout.

Seeing the course of the season, it would be logical for Lunin to start the final, but it seems Ancelotti has decided otherwise.

According to MARCA, Ancelotti’s decision is to start Thibaut Courtois in the final because he has returned in great form.

Lunin will get one more game this season, in the weekend vs Villarreal – and then Courtois is expected to start the last league game vs Betis and then the final on June 1st – vs Dortmund at Wembley.

Jude Bellingham – a new position for him in 2024/25

Jude Bellingham – a new position for him in 2024/25
By: Ardit Lipa | 10:57 am
787

Jude Bellingham has been one of the best player in the world this season.

The 20-year old English midfielder has fit in perfectly at Real Madrid – producing a hall of famer first season, both in statistics and performances.

The first season though, has found Jude Bellingham playing a position not so familiar to him – but a position he got used to perfectly. Playing more advanced, Jude helped a lot with his goals, assists, creativity and much more.

Ahead of coming to Real Madrid, Jude used to play a more behind in the position of a CM – and it looks like he will soon return to his natural position.

According to MARCA, Kylian Mbappé’s arrival at Real Madrid will make Carlo Ancelotti switch back to the old 4-3-3, with the French player and the two Brazilians in Viní Jr. & Rodrygo forming the attack. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham is expected to return back as a CM, forming a midfield trio with Valverde & Tchouaméni.

A change in position will probably mean lesser number in goals next season, but seeing how Jude fits perfectly everywhere he plays – there’s not a single doubt he will be as good as ever, if not better in his new position next season.

There is a date for Kylian Mbappé’s presentation at Real Madrid

There is a date for Kylian Mbappé’s presentation at Real Madrid
By: Ardit Lipa | 10:19 am
1670

After 7 years of a long-lasting saga, Kylian Mbappé will finally join Real Madrid this summer.

The French player announced a week ago through an official video that he will leave Paris Saint-Germain in the end of this season.

Now, him being officially announced as a Real Madrid player is only a matter of time, and it’s expected to happen as soon as the UEFA Champions League ends, around June 2nd.

It has also been kind of revealed in Mbappé’s documentary in BBC – that his next move will be Real Madrid.

Fabrizio Romano has said a few times that Mbappé’s arrival at Real Madrid will not be like any other & that the club will prepare something special for him. The announcement & the presentation will all be special.

And when we’re talking about the presentation, it looks like it will happen sooner than expected. According to MARCA, Real Madrid are planning to present Kylian Mbappé as an official player of the club ahead of EURO 2024.

Anyway, this will first require a request to Paris Saint-Germain – since officially, Mbappé is a player of the French Champions until June 30th.

Believing this will not be a problem after they officially announce the player, Real Madrid plan to present Kylian Mbappé between June 3rd & June 9th.

In case Real Madrid wins UEFA Champions League, the first week of June will be a busy week with celebrations at Real Madrid.

How Carlo Ancelotti waited for the perfect time to play Arda Güler

How Carlo Ancelotti waited for the perfect time to play Arda Güler
By: Ardit Lipa | May 15, 2024 7:22 pm
1928

Not every story is the same when it comes to Real Madrid players – through the history of the club, but mostly in the recent history, a lot of players have joined the club, while not everyone has been successful.

Some have started their Real Madrid life in the best possible way, like Jude Bellingham. Others have had to sacrifice and wait for their chance while spending some seasons on the bench & as role players, like Vinicius Jr. or Fede Valverde or Rodrygo or many other examples, while some others failed to show their qualities at Real Madrid – like Eden Hazard or Luka Jovic, who joined the club with high expectations but never reached the potential or success they were expected to.

Many names have failed to live with the pressure at Real Madrid, but there were also players who could not stand to wait for their time – and decided to look for their chance elsewhere.

One player who didn’t start his Real Madrid life in a good way, was the talented Turkish teenager, Arda Güler – who joined this summer from Fenerbahçe, but had to be sidelined for the whole of 2023 with reoccurring injuries, three different ones that prevented him from showing his much talked qualities in the pitch.

Arda returned in January, but since then he has played a total of only 285 minutes for Real Madrid – leaving everyone questioning why Carlo Ancelotti is not giving more chance to him through some games.

But, as we talk on Arda Güler, we will write how we believe that Carlo managed the Turkish talent perfectly, waiting for the ideal time to start and include him in the right rhythm.

Being sidelined for a total of 6 months, it was clear that Arda Güler did not have the right physical condition – and above all didn’t have the right experience to play the very demanding matches from January to April, matches those that decided this season. When you look back at those matches, you can fully understand why the Italian coach choose to include Brahim or Joselu in the match ahead of Arda, who alongside the physical condition – would have the pressure of the world on his shoulders if he had to be on the pitch in season deciding matches.

Playing in high pressure matches, especially at this age after coming back from a 6 month injury, in most chances would lead to poor performances that could directly impact the player’s morale. Being a coach for over three decades, Carlo Ancelotti knew how to treat Arda Güler – and waited for the perfect moment to give him his share of minutes.

Arda Güler found his first goal at Real Madrid on March 2nd vs Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu, but it was late April when he started getting his chances – and he has delivered in the best possible way.

He scored Real Madrid’s winning goal vs Real Sociedad in a tough ground like Anoeta, while having a really good match three days later vs Cadiz at the Bernabeu. In the last two games, Arda played the first full 90 minutes vs Granda away scoring a goal, while in the 30 minutes vs Alaves last night, he scored another – finding his 4th goal in just 285 minutes, proving to everyone his qualities.

Carlo Ancelotti waited for the low pressure matches to give minutes to a guy who already had much pressure in his shoulders by the things that were being written in the media, and the rumours for a loan out – which would be shut down first by the Italian coach who confirmed that Arda is definitely staying at Real Madrid and they count on his abilities. With two matches left in La Liga, Arda is expected to get even more chances, to get used with the team and be prepared for EURO 2024 – and then what promises to be a big second year for him at Real Madrid.

With Luka Modric expected to leave this summer, Arda’s chances next summer are also expected to be much higher than this season. With every match, he is showing how much he is improving – and his versatility will be a very useful tool for Real Madrid in the near future and even further.

Carlo Ancelotti’s man management is amazing, and he is showing another example with the management of Arda Güler this season – who from starting the season in the worst possible way, is closing it in the best possible way. The best thing happening to the Turkish Boy, is the fact that Carlo will be his coach next season too.

Hoping for a big EURO 2024 & injuries worries leaving him alone, everyone is excited to see Arda’s bright future at Real Madrid. This boy is special.

All Real Madrid players’ contract length…

All Real Madrid players’ contract length…
By: Ardit Lipa | 12:20 pm
1099

As the season is coming to an end, we start hearing more and more rumors about the future of Real Madrid players, especially those whose contracts are expiring this summer.

So far, there is a big uncertainty around the future of the great midfield duo – Kroos & Modric, and alongside them, there are many players whose future at Real Madrid is not guaranteed.

When there are only two league games + the UEFA Champions League final left, Real Madrid have to start preparing for summer 2024, as it promises to be a very busy one, both in transfers in & out.

There are many questions when it comes to the contract length of Real Madrid players, so below we will bring the list of when all the players end their contract with the club – without taking into consideration all the rumours about extending or leaving.

2024 – Nacho, Lucas, Kroos, Modric, Joselu (loan end), Kepa (loan end)

2025 – Lunin, Mendy, Carvajal

2026 – Courtois, Alaba, Rudiger

2027 – Fran Garcia, Ceballos, Brahim, Nico Paz, Vini Jr

2028 – Militão, Tchouameni, Rodrygo

2029 – Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham, Güler

Everything remains to be solved during summer 2024, as Real Madrid prepares for a big summer after a big season. Players like Endrick, Kylian Mbappe, Leny Yoro & Alphonso Davies are expected to be added to Real Madrid’s contract list – but who will be removed from the list, it’s still a big dilemma – even though the rumors give a glimpse of how the squad will look in 2024/25.

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