JUDE BELLINGHAM picked out a pocket of space for Kylian Mbappe to run into and there was only ever going to be one outcome.
Here was a ruthless, devastating combination we are certain to see countless times over the next few years.
Having finally got the move he has wanted for so long, Mbappe ushered in this latest Galacticos era with a goal on his debut to make it 2-0 in the Uefa Super Cup against Atalanta in Warsaw.
While the French superstar celebrated with his trademark arms folded routine, Bellingham was on the other side of the pitch, screaming and punching the air with delight.
Mind you, to have Mbappe in his team, no wonder he is bloody delighted.
Despite having a slow start to the game in Poland, Bellingham really got stuck into the Italians.
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He was responsible for Real’s improvement and while he also had a hand in the first goal scored by Federico Valverde just before the hour, his overall play was impressive and he got a warm round of applause when being replaced near the end.
Mbappe’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain was always going to have a massive impact not just at the Madrid club but also on Bellingham.
And the Englishman now looks certain to be back in central midfield, the beating heart of this team, but with a licence to get forward and cause carnage as part of a devastating combo with Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Bellingham only returned from holiday last week following Euro 2024 where, apart from his stunning equaliser against Slovakia, he was guilty of some seriously under-par performances.
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So the sight of Bellingham once again tearing up La Liga will be even more frustrating to those who saw him toil in Germany.
Looking at this Real team, though, they have really got all their glitz and glamour back.
In the last few years, they have still managed to dominate Europe by finding a way to win, however unspectacular.
But now – thanks to Mbappe – they have got a side to match any of their previous all-singing, all-dancing, Galactico teams.
Clearly, Bellingham will absolutely love playing with Mbappe. But playing back in a more central position will help him develop his strengths.
He was stuck out on the left in the second half of last season by Ancelotti – and then by Southgate for the Euros.
His numbers in Spain were good. Spectacular, in fact. Bellingham registered 23 goals and 12 assists, although Ancelotti needed hom to deliver those figures because the club were missing the final piece in their jigsaw.
In Mbappe, they now have that man.
Yet this summer, it has been all change at the Bernabeu as Mbappe has been joined by Brazilian teenager Endrick, while Nacho and Joselu have ended up in Saudi Arabia and Toni Kroos has retired, which leaves a huge hole in midfield.
Although in the second half, Bellingham proved that he can be the man who pulls the strings.
Ancelotti played with a front three of Vinicius Junior, Mbappe and Rodrygo.
Bellingham was centre left, Federico Valverde centre right, with Aurelien Tchouameni in the defensive anchor role.
Before the game, Ancelotti said: “Defensively, the system depends on Bellingham and if he is on the level of Valverde or pushing forward, so it can be a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1.
“It’s a small difference, but one we see when we don’t have the ball. Vinicius and Mbappé can swap positions, too. Mobility is going to be crucial.”
Initially, he did get many chances to get forward.
“When he did, Bellingham controlled the ball with his chest but in trying to score, ended up sinking his foot into Atalanta keeper Juan Musso, earning him a yellow card.
Yet Bellingham eventually turned on the style. He found Vinicius Junior who skipped past a player and delivered the assist for Valverde.
After having one shot blocked and another saved, Bellingham then displayed terrific vision by seeing an area for Mbappe to run into and deliver a killer finish.
The former Birmingham star was not the only English export on show last night.
Londoner Ademola Lookman, the former England under-21 international who now plays for Nigeria, wrote himself into Atalanta folklore by scoring a hat-trick in the 3-0 Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Also coming off the Atalanta subs’ bench was Ben Godfrey, a £10million arrival from Everton.
After finishing the season on Merseyside, he would not have expected his next game would have been playing against Mbappe in a Uefa final.
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Prior to a season featuring expanded formats for both the Champions League and the Club World Cup, Real are the team to beat.
And over the next nine months, expect Bellingham to add to his medal collection.
Kylian Mbappe ‘snaps up £15m mansion in Beckham’s old neighbourhood’ next door to Real Madrid legend and Hollywood star
By Gerard Couzens
KYLIAN MBAPPE has reportedly splashed out more than £15million on a mansion in Madrid.
The French superstar, whose drawn-out transfer to Real Madrid has finally being confirmed, is said to have finalised the purchase late last month.
Respected Spanish daily La Razon says the house he has bought is in the exclusive Madrid suburb of La Moraleja, where David Beckham spent most of his time living when he was in the Spanish capital.
And it says his neighbours will include former Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos and his stunning model wife Pilar Rubio as well as Hollywood star Richard Gere and his Spanish publicist wife Alejandra Silva.
La Razon said Mbappe had considered the gated estate of La Finca where Jude Bellingham lives and Cristiano Ronaldo still owns property as an option.
But it reported the 25-year-old, who threw an extravagant party for 250 guests at a stylish Italian restaurant a short walk from the Eiffel Tower, ended up opting for La Moraleja a 15-minute drive from Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex because it was “more comfortable.”
Read more on Mbappe’s property hunt.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
