Mourinho Surprises Bellingham After His Return to Training.. A Bold Decision Rocks Real Madrid!
Jude Bellingham has returned to Real Madrid training, but his appearance at the training ground was far from an ordinary return to work after his break, with reports revealing that José Mourinho has already decided how he wants the English star to be used during the 2026-27 season.
Bellingham has rejoined the squad as Real Madrid prepare for the new season under Mourinho, and the Portuguese manager does not appear willing to wait long before putting his own ideas into practice regarding one of the team’s most important stars.
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According to reports from AS, as cited by Madrid Universal, Mourinho plans to use Bellingham in a more advanced role within a 4-2-3-1 formation, rather than keeping him in deeper positions as he did last season.
The interesting part is that Bellingham’s return to training has coincided with this new tactical vision, opening the door to a completely different chapter in the player’s relationship with Mourinho at Real Madrid.
Mourinho Wants a Completely Different Bellingham
Mourinho’s idea is clear: he wants to position Bellingham closer to the penalty area and give him greater freedom to operate behind the striker, allowing him to exploit spaces, make late runs and create danger in the final third.
That is where the surprise comes in. Mourinho does not simply view Bellingham as a midfielder capable of building play; he wants to bring back the attacking version that impressed Real Madrid fans during his first season at the club.
Mourinho does not want to change Bellingham.. He wants to bring back the version that made everyone talk about him at Real Madrid.
During the 2023-24 season, Bellingham scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists after being given greater freedom to move forward and attack dangerous areas. Mourinho reportedly believes that the 4-2-3-1 system could provide the right environment for him to produce a similar impact.
The player’s performances for England at the 2026 World Cup also gave Mourinho another example of what Bellingham can offer when given a more attacking role, after reportedly scoring seven goals and providing one assist in eight matches.
Now that he has returned to training, Bellingham appears to be entering a new chapter under Mourinho. The report indicates that the Portuguese coach will begin working with him directly after the match against Deportivo La Coruña, giving him enough time to readjust to the squad following his summer break.
What stands out is not only the position Mourinho wants Bellingham to play, but also the message behind the decision: the new manager wants to build his system around the English star’s real strengths rather than forcing him into roles that limit his attacking threat.
As a result, Bellingham’s return to Real Madrid training could mark the beginning of a completely different story, especially if Mourinho succeeds in bringing out the best version of the player who was one of the team’s standout stars during his first season.
Fans are now waiting to see what happens when the idea is finally implemented on the pitch. Will Mourinho bring Bellingham back to the version that Real Madrid supporters became accustomed to at the Santiago Bernabéu, or does the Portuguese manager have more details that have yet to be revealed?
