Mourinho Aims to Restore Best Version of Bellingham

English star Jude Bellingham returned to Real Madrid training on Wednesday after finishing his summer vacation following his participation with the national team in the World Cup, as Portuguese coach José Mourinho aims to get the best version of Bellingham back.

Mourinho sees the playing style he will adopt at Real Madrid (4-2-3-1) as providing Bellingham with the ideal environment to showcase his abilities at their best, relying on him more as a playmaker behind the striker.

The Portuguese coach believes that Bellingham is capable of providing defensive support and helping the team press and regain possession, but without straying too far from the penalty area, where his key strengths lie in moving into spaces and reaching the goal.

Mourinho aims to restore Bellingham to the level he showcased during his first season with Real Madrid, when he scored 23 goals and provided 13 assists, delivering exceptional performances that made him one of the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or.

In the following two seasons, the player's performance declined somewhat, particularly due to a change in position and various roles on the pitch, alongside the impact of a shoulder injury that affected the start of one of his seasons with the team. However, his standout displays with the England national team have restored much of his confidence, and now both the player and Mourinho hope to bring this version of him to Real Madrid.

The competition for the playmaker position remains one of the most pressing issues awaiting Mourinho in the new season, especially with Arda Güler's impressive performances during pre-season, alongside the presence of Brahim Díaz and Bernardo Silva.

Mourinho hopes to find the right combination that allows Bellingham to return to his role of creating danger and reaching the goal, while simultaneously maintaining the team's tactical balance.