Real Madrid News
Davide Ancelotti explains why Vinicius is so loved inside Real Madrid dressing room
Vinicius Junior has endured plenty of scrutiny during his Real Madrid career and is going through a less-than-favourable moment at the club right now.
His form has not been great for either club or country since the start of the campaign, and he is looking to get back to his best sooner rather than later.
Davide Ancelotti has now offered a perspective on why the Brazilian enjoys the dressing room’s support despite these difficult moments.
Ancelotti highlights Vinicius’ team-first mentality
In an interview with AS (h/t Madrid Zone), Ancelotti, now coaching Lille, spoke about what makes Vinicius so loved.
“Vinicius has always been there for the team, which is why his teammates love him,” Ancelotti said.
It is a significant assessment from someone who knows the Madrid dressing room extremely well. Davide spent years alongside his father, Carlo, at the Bernabeu.
He worked closely with Vinicius during the winger’s rise into one of Madrid’s decisive players and one of the world’s best players.
A different picture of Vinicius
From outside Madrid, much of the conversation around Vinicius inevitably focuses on confrontations, reactions and controversy.
Inside the dressing room, however, the picture has consistently appeared different. That support matters, particularly during a difficult period for the Brazilian.
Increased competition in Los Blancos’ attack is putting significant pressure on the South American to start performing.
He was hooked even before the hour mark against Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby, and it was not something the player would have been particularly happy about.
Madrid need their winger back at his best
Being popular with teammates will not remove the sporting demands placed on Vinicius.
Real Madrid ultimately need goals, assists and the devastating one-v-one threat that made him such an important figure in their biggest victories.
However, dressing-room relationships matter when a major player is trying to rediscover confidence.
Ancelotti worked with Vinicius through some of the best years of his Madrid career, and he understands that the team will help the Brazilian get back to his best.
Mourinho will hope for the same and to see Vinicius somewhere close to that level after the international break, and it remains to be seen how the rest of his season pans out.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham makes England history with phenomenal four-goal contribution vs Croatia
Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham has not put a foot wrong since the World Cup in North America in the summer.
He has been scoring and creating chances for fun for both England and Real Madrid, and that trend has carried into the international break.
Bellingham has produced another reminder of his extraordinary attacking influence, with the Madrid midfielder making England history after recording four goal involvements in a single match, which came against Croatia (1G, 3A).
According to Opta, Bellingham became the first England midfielder to achieve the feat since David Platt recorded four goal involvements against San Marino in February 1993.
Bellingham ends 33-year wait
That means more than three decades have passed since an England midfielder last managed what Bellingham has just produced.
That statistic is another illustration of why Bellingham cannot simply be judged as a conventional central midfielder.
4 – Jude Bellingham is the first midfielder to record four goal involvements in a match for England since David Platt scored four against San Marino in February 1993. Phenomenal. https://t.co/2LNCXbEQXd
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 2026
His ability to arrive around the penalty area, create chances and directly influence goals gives him an attacking dimension that very few midfielders possess.
Four goal involvements in one international match is exceptional regardless of the opposition or circumstances.
Doing something no other England midfielder had managed since 1993 puts the performance on a much higher pedestal.
Mourinho has an extraordinary weapon
Mourinho already knows how valuable Bellingham can be when given the freedom to operate close to Madrid’s attack.
His ideal position will always be a dilemma. He has the physical qualities to contribute deeper, the technical ability to help progression and the intelligence to operate between the lines.
However, performances like this are precisely why Madrid should be careful about moving him too far away from goal.
Bellingham’s greatest quality might be that he does not need to dominate possession to dominate a football match. He knows the exact moment to be decisive.
Bellingham returns to Madrid in spectacular form
International breaks can often make Madrid nervous, particularly when key players are involved, but Bellingham will return having enjoyed an extraordinary time with England.
The numbers speak for themselves. Madrid possess plenty of attacking talent, but Bellingham is the glue that holds everything together.
Mourinho’s task is to build a structure that maximises that, and judging by Bellingham’s start to the season, he has done it to a large extent.
It remains to be seen whether the England midfielder can sustain his form in the coming weeks and months for Real Madrid.
