Where does Jude Bellingham fit in Xabi Alonso’s new-look Real Madrid starting lineup? Arda Guler is in trouble as the fit-again English midfielder returns to play

Jude Bellingham Xabi Alonso’s Starting XI

The dynamic midfielder has no obvious place in the manager’s system, and the Spaniard confronts a struggle bringing him into his starting eleven.

He’s back.

Welcome, Jude Bellingham. Real Madrid (kind of) missed you. Two years ago, the English midfielder served as the team’s fulcrum and savior. Madrid were not particularly good as a unit. They did not have a striker. Karim Benzema was gone. Bellingham came in as a false nine and saved Los Blancos’ season. It was a tasty story: new guy comes in, scores a lot of goals, and Madrid wins a double.

Then things changed slightly. You probably should have seen it coming. The entrance of Kylian Mbappe altered the balance. Bellingham was not exploring the same areas. The balance was gone. Instead, the Englishman, a former Ballon d’Or candidate, evolved into a pure runner who did not always appear to want to race.

Under Xabi Alonso, it could have been problematic from the start. Bellingham did not quite fit. He was in and out of games during the Club World Cup. All in all, the postponed shoulder surgery he endured in July felt quite merciful. However, the alleged day of reckoning has arrived. Bellingham has recovered faster than expected from his surgery. And, after failing to come off the bench in the Champions League midweek, it is considerably more likely that he will be integrated into the squad.

Alonso has stated that he has no trouble benching the big names, but is Bellingham too important to fail? Maybe not. Either way, he’ll have to be assimilated. GOAL examines the manager’s options as he seeks to reintegrate Bellingham into his side of Galacticos…

Jude Bellingham Real Madrid 2023–24
Getty

A beautiful homecoming.

First, consider what Madrid will receive when they return here. Bellingham is an enormous talent, and you could make a solid argument that he is the finest in his position in world football (with all due respect to the equally excellent Pedri). He is a versatile player who can play in a variety of midfield positions. Although he is best suited as a Steven Gerrard-like No.8, he can also play as a 10, false nine, and, in a pinch, come off either wing in a four-man midfield (something he accomplished well under Carlo Ancelotti).

He is a goalscorer who excels at making late runs into the box. He can tackle, throw, run, and dribble. There isn’t a greater all-rounder. However, as he has demonstrated at times, doing so on a continuous basis over 90 minutes might be problematic.

Indeed, whereas Bellingham excelled in his first year, his performance declined dramatically in his second. Madrid were simply worse. And Bellingham was moved around and asked to perform other roles. By the end of the year, it seemed like a lost cause. His game began to suffer from a lack of enthusiasm. It was probably best shown by Pedri’s goal in El Clasico, in which Bellingham misplaced the ball and failed to track his man back, only to see him slam one into the top corner. Bellingham scurried as it happened.

Arda Guler Real Madrid 2025–26
Getty

Guler is out, Bellingham is in.

But now he is here. And Alonso will undoubtedly want to get the most out of him. The most obvious method of reintergration is a simple swap. So far, Alonso has used a 4-3-3 formation, with Arda Guler as the creative No.10. It would be tough on Turkey’s young international players, but if Alonso wants like-for-like replacements, benching Guler and bringing in Bellingham fits perfectly.

However, there is a problem with this. While Mbappe has been Madrid’s top striker, Guler has been their greatest player this season. He has brilliantly connected things and acted as a critical creative presence as Los Blancos have put together an unblemished start. Benching him would mean losing their best attacking asset.

Real Madrid CF vs. Juventus FC: Round of 16 – FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Getty Images Sport.

Bellingham enters, Guler moves out wide.

Perhaps a more tactical structure would be preferable, allowing all of the top players to take the field. Alonso has struggled to find consistency at right flank, having tried Franco Mastantuono, Brahim Diaz, and Rodrygo.

None of the three has secured the slot completely. Guler is youthful and versatile enough to make that position his own. He may be less involved, but there are still opportunities for him to create space, make good passes, and provide a little width when necessary. If he and Bellingham reach an agreement, with Mbappe in the midst, the consequences may be frightening.

But there is also a difficulty here. This would almost definitely mean that Guler’s influence would decline. It might also undo the efforts of Mastantuono, Brahim, and Rodrygo. The balance would surely shift.

The biggest risk

Then there are the more risky alternatives. Want to put Guler in his best position, play Bellingham as an 8, and rely on the trickery and hard work of someone else on the right? Why not bench Aurelien Tchouameni and launch an all-out attack? To be frank, it would make more sense to rest Federico Valverde, but the Uruguayan captain is simply too crucial to the team. Every boss has found a way to work him in, regardless of the system.

So, against those teams that will undoubtedly sit in, when Madrid requires more attacking responses, there is a case to be made for Valverde to play in Tchouameni’s holding role, Bellingham to go forward, and Guler to remain in as a 10. That would, in principle, be enormously enjoyable.

It would also be something close to suicide. Valverde is a solid No. 6, but an excellent No. 8. Madrid is already very vulnerable on the counter, and this would make matters worse.

Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen Getty

Three in the back experiment
Alonso’s title-winning Bayer Leverkusen side lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with a central striker, two No.10s, and two creative wingbacks. Being completely married to a system might be dangerous (right, Ruben Amorim?). However, Madrid may be able to make this one work over time. It would require some sacrifices, however. A Valverde-Tchouameni double pivot may keep things stable. Mbappe might play through the center. That would leave Guler, Bellingham, and Vinicius to compete for the two spots close below him.

There is also a universe in which Valverde plays on the right, Bellingham takes on a more important position, and Vinicius and Guler join the sidelines. That would be fantastic, but it would also require sacrificing Trent Alexander-Arnold, which appears to be a dumb choice.

Real Madrid C.F. vs. Olympique de Marseille – UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1
Getty Images Sport

Strength in depth.

But arguably the most important issue here is that Alonso has options. For all of the hype about Galacticos and the necessity to get everyone on the same side, Alonso has already demonstrated that he has no difficulty rotating when needed. With so many games and minutes to play, world-class depth is a prerequisite.

Of course, that makes it difficult to keep everyone satisfied. One or two huge names, such as Vinicius, Bellingham, Trent, and Guler, will have to be left out on regular basis. That will necessitate buy-in and excellent squad management, which is not easy. However, if Alonso is capable, that may be the best option in the long run. For the time being, Bellingham is a bench player, waiting for his opportunity – wherever it may come.