Real Madrid News
Real Madrid impressed by superstar’s physical condition after extra work during vacation
Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham had a World Cup to remember in the United States and has carried that form into the La Liga season.
After scoring Los Blancos’ first goal of the 2026-27 campaign, Bellingham set up two of Madrid’s goals against Real Sociedad last night.
It was an excellent display from the Englishman and, according to Diario AS, it looks like he has made quite an impression.
Bellingham is said to have returned in outstanding physical condition after his vacation due to the work he put in during the off-season.
Bellingham’s vacation work paying off
The preparation is already translating into performances on the pitch.
Bellingham produced an excellent all-round performance in Madrid’s 4-1 win over the Basque club, showing a lot of energy, intensity and tenacity.
The 23-year-old won more duels than anyone else on the pitch with nine, completed the most dribbles with three and registered four recoveries.
His work with the ball was equally impressive. Bellingham completed 95.2% of his passes and 92.3% in the final third, creating four chances.
It was this combination of technical quality on the ball and the physical bite off the ball that made his performance so encouraging.
Mourinho even highlighted Bellingham’s condition after the game, praising his ability to maintain his intensity deep into the match.
Mourinho profiles Bellingham perfectly
Bellingham’s improved physical conditioning has been complemented by Jose making an important tactical change.
Mourinho sees him primarily as a No. 10 and wants the English star to operate close to the opposition penalty area.
The midfielder is still afforded the freedom to drop deeper and participate in build-up when necessary, but his starting position is much more offensive.
This approach seems to be paying dividends, with Bellingham registering goal contributions in both games so far.
A major figure in Mourinho’s plans
There is also an appreciation of what Bellingham offers apart from his attacking numbers.
His natural game allows him to press aggressively and contribute defensively without sacrificing his influence around the box.
The Vinicius goal against Sociedad was all Bellingham, who showed tenacity to win the ball inside the box seconds after he lost it and set the Brazilian up.
The 23-year-old is the rare breed of superstar who is willing to work his socks off for the team, and that is something Mourinho will value.
The Portuguese manager also views Bellingham as an important dressing-room leader despite not being among the team’s official captains.
After a difficult 2025-26 campaign, it does look like Bellingham is determined to rediscover his best level for Madrid.
The work behind the renaissance is just the beginning, and Jose and Madrid will hope that the Englishman can continue to impress in the coming months.
After a month into the new season, Aurelien Tchouameni is finally back in action for Real Madrid.
The Frenchman made his first appearance of the season for the Merengues last night against Inter Milan after recovering from the muscular injury that delayed his campaign.
His return to fitness had raised questions over where he would fit into Mourinho’s plans.
Tchouameni has been a regular in Real Madrid’s midfield for several seasons under different managers, but the end of last season was far less straightforward.
His confrontation with Federico Valverde, combined with speculation over his future at the club, created uncertainty about his position. His lack of a proper pre-season also appeared to put him behind other midfield options.
Bernardo Silva had established himself as an important figure, while Eduardo Camavinga was also ahead of Tchouameni in terms of match fitness.
With Real Madrid looking for greater creativity in midfield, there were questions over whether the Frenchman would still be a first-choice player.
Key for Mourinho
According to AS (h/t Bernabeu Digital), however, Mourinho has no such doubts. Tchouameni remains a key player for the Portuguese coach and is expected to be a starter.
Mourinho sees the French international as a midfielder without a direct replacement in the squad.
For Jose, Tchouameni provides something that none of the other midfielders in the squad do – a more defensive and positional presence, combining his tactical discipline with considerable physical strength.
His ability to shield the defence and provide balance could be particularly important for a Real Madrid side that want to defend aggressively and attack quickly in transition.
For that reason, his absence at the start of the campaign has not changed the manager’s view of his importance.
Mourinho faces a midfield selection problem
The challenge for Mourinho now is finding a way to fit all the pieces together.
If Tchouameni is guaranteed a starting position and Valverde is considered untouchable as captain, the obvious consequence is that Bernardo could find himself starting from the bench.
The summer arrival had been given an important role in helping Real Madrid control and distribute possession from deeper positions.
However, with Tchouameni and Valverde both occupying midfield places, Mourinho cannot accommodate everyone in the same lineup.
How the Portuguese coach manages that competition will be interesting to see in the coming weeks.
