Jude Bellingham has once again come under fire from the Spanish press – this time for apparently ‘lacking creativity, physicality, and dynamism’.
The Englishman has been criticised for going quiet in high-pressure moments alongside Vinicius Junior in a scathing article by Madrid-based newspaper Marca.
It comes after Real Madrid collapsed to a 4-2 defeat at Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday, plunging them into the play-offs.
Just days ago, Bellingham was reported to be one of five stars hauled in for talks with club president Florentino Perez over ‘attitude’ problems, according to Cadena SER.
But his new manager Alvaro Arbeloa is happy with what he has seen from the 22-year-old, who has started all bar one game in the last three months.
‘I’ve seen a player with exceptional quality and abilities,’ Arbeloa said on Tuesday.
Jude Bellingham has come under fire from the Spanish press for ‘lacking creativity, physicality, and dynamism’
He was also reportedly hauled into a meeting with the club’s president over his ‘attitude’
However, his manager Alvaro Arbeloa has paid a glowing tribute to his attitude and work ethic
‘Anyone who’s seen him on television knows it, but when you’re up close, it’s even more surprising.
‘Beyond his football quality, I’ve seen a player who wants to be a leader, a role model. The other day, 48 hours after a game, I told him – and I never, ever say this – “stop running.”
‘The performance he’s giving in training, his commitment and his leadership… I’m very proud of having a player like Jude Bellingham.
‘On the pitch, he’s capable of doing so many things well.
‘He’s a player who makes runs into space, gets into the box, has a good shot, he reads the game. He’s young, but he has a lot of experience. And he’s going to be the cornerstone of this Real Madrid for many years.’
All the same, Marca accused Bellingham and Vinicius Jr of not ‘seeming capable of taking the reins’ when in high-pressure situations – an assessment which flies in the face of what we’ve seen of the midfielder for England.
‘Bellingham chased shadows at Da Luz, began Marca’s withering assessment.
‘Lacking creativity, physicality, and the dynamism that made him an instant idol upon his arrival, the young man who dazzled the Bernabeu with his boundless hunger now seems diluted in a role that doesn’t suit him, that diminishes his presence.’
Bellingham recently mocked those who suggested that he has been distracted by partying, celebrating as if he was drinking after scoring against Monaco
Bellingham has been deployed deeper this season – Kylian Mbappe’s constant goalscoring means the former Birmingham and Borussia Dortmund star isn’t required to crash the box as much.
He has scored six goals and set up a further four in all competitions this campaign.
The youngster bagged his first goal of 2026 in Madrid’s 6-1 demolition of Monaco last week and celebrated by pretending to drink as as he mocked claims of him leading a party lifestyle.
‘There’s two ways you can take it: you can cry about it and moan, or send a lawyer, or you can just roll with it and enjoy it,’ Bellingham told TNT Sports.
‘I know the truth, I know what really goes on in my personal life, I know what I give to the game and the team. All the outside noise doesn’t really matter.’
