Signed for €105m last summer, Jude Bellingham’s first season at Real Madrid has been nothing short of ridiculous. 20 years of age, in his first season at the biggest club in the world as €100m+ signing, with more pressure on his shoulders than there would be at any other club, no one would have faulted the Englishman if he took some time to acclimatize and find his footing, but that was not the case. 16 goals and 4 assists in LaLiga, 4 goals and 4 assists in the Champions League, Jude’s start to his career as Madridista has been incredible. Playing at the tip of a diamond as a roaming 10 who bombs into the box, Jude went from being seen as an incredible midfield prospect to being seen as one of the premier attackers in the world. While being seen as one of the best attackers in the world is always a good thing, it can also come with the certain downsides, downsides that were clear when people began to criticize his performances against Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Due to his phenomenal goalscoring exploits this season, people seemed to have forgotten what type of player Jude really is, and the type of player he was at Dortmund that attracted Real Madrid enough to make him the club’s second most expensive signing ever. At Dortmund, Jude did not play as a free roaming, box crashing 10. In-fact, he did not even play as a classic 10. At Dortmund Jude played a deeper role, more akin to an 8 than a 10. Furthermore, Jude also played as a 6, or a deeper pivot at Dortmund in his first year at the club. In a recent interview, this is what he had to say about his role at the German club, and at Madrid now:

The reason behind Jude’s decision to wear the number 22 at Dortmund and Birmingham is also tied to his versatility as a midfielder. The number 22 is a summation of the 3 roles that he could and did play; the no.4, no.8 and no.10. The reasons behind Jude moving away from a deeper role were the circumstances at Real Madrid when he signed. The starting 9, Karim Benzema had just left the club, and there were no other attackers who naturally fit that role. As a result, the team switched from the classic 4-3-3 to a 4-3-1-2 diamond with Jude playing at the top of the diamond.

Now, to his performance against Manchester City, particularly the 2^nd leg. In the 2^nd leg against Manchester City, which was at the Etihad, Jude played the full 120 minutes and took and scored a penalty in the shootout. Of all players who played, Jude ran the most (15km) and won the second most duels (9). However, Jude’s performance drew criticism from both City fans and neutrals, and even small sections of the Madrid fanbase. Over the course of 2 legs, Jude did not score or assist once, and this was seen as a clear indication that he had poor games. This, however, could not be further from the truth, especially for the second-leg.

Winning 9/13 duels, completing 1/1 dribbles 3 clearances and 5 tackles, Jude had a performance that befitted his original playstyle. Playing as an all-action midfielder who played deeper and was tasked with breaking up play, Jude did exactly that. His frame and athleticism, combined with his excellent reading of the game make him a fantastic fit for such a role. Tasked with being the lead presser, and being a ball-winner, Jude was made to switch his style and he excelled. On set-pieces, Jude was even given the job of marking Haaland, and he was able to throw Haaland off every-time he marked him on a corner. If another midfielder who people perceive as an 8 or a 6 performed like that, it would be seen as a great defensive display. A tireless display against some of the best and most creative players in the world, Jude dropped a display that Fede Valverde described like this:

On top of all of this, Jude was also instrumental in the first goal. Receiving a long-pass from the back, Jude controlled the ball perfectly with a great touch, while stopping his momentum, which took him away from Rodri. Then, he proceeded to drop the shoulder and get past Ruben Dias, before releasing Vinícius down the line, after which Viní sent in the cross for Rodrygo’s goal. Jude played an instrumental role in the goal, and also slotted home his penalty in the shootout.

The performance that Jude displayed how versatile he really is. Changing his role from what he played for the most of the season, Jude showed that he can be an all-action midfielder that can put in a gritty, hardworking shift when his team needs him to. He also showed that not only can he play such a role, but he can excel in it as well.

Jude is not, and has never been, simply an attacker. He is one of the most versatile midfielders in the world, someone who can carry the ball and beat players, someone who can create and play amazing passes, and now someone who can also score at a rate that great strikers would be proud of. He is also a fantastic athlete, extremely hard-working, and a top-class ball winner. His performance against City showed exactly that. To judge him just based on one side of his game, when he’s as well-rounded as he is, is disingenuous. For Jude to truly have a poor game, his game needs to be poor on both sides, not just his attacking side. Against Manchester City, while he may not have had a fantastic performance, Bellingham still had a very good one.