Jude Bellingham has started the new season looking like a player with something to prove.
The 23-year-old has registered two goals and three assists to help Real Madrid make a perfect start under Jose Mourinho, winning their opening three matches.
But it is not simply Bellingham's numbers attracting attention. A tactical change under Mourinho has given the England midfielder greater attacking freedom and brought him closer to the devastating role he occupied during his debut season at the Bernabeu.
Bellingham scored 23 goals in 2023-24 as Real Madrid won La Liga and the Champions League, but his following two campaigns were less consistent.
A deeper midfield role limited some of his attacking influence, while injuries also disrupted his rhythm. A long-standing shoulder problem required surgery in 2025 before a hamstring injury ruled him out for 10 matches in 2026.
Now back at peak fitness and fresh from an outstanding World Cup with England, Bellingham appears ready to showcase his full attacking potential again.
Since returning to Real Madrid for a second spell this summer, Mourinho has made one crucial adjustment to Bellingham's responsibilities.
The Portuguese coach has reduced the midfielder's defensive workload, allowing him to spend more time in dangerous attacking positions.
"We've organised the team differently," Mourinho said following Madrid's 4-0 La Liga victory over Malaga.
"Bellingham sometimes defended like a second left-back last season. I told him I do not want to see that anymore. I made a deal with him."
Mourinho has primarily deployed Bellingham as a number 10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation, operating behind Kylian Mbappe while being given freedom to move across the attacking line.
Rather than constantly switching between defensive, midfield and attacking duties, Bellingham can now focus his influence closer to goal.
"For me, this is his position, with his connection with the forwards, he can score goals," Mourinho said.
"He has to play close to the goal. Playing at number six or number eight, we're losing his closeness to the goal. I like this Jude."
The change allows Bellingham to receive possession between the lines, carry the ball forward, combine with Madrid's attackers and make his trademark late runs into the penalty area.
Bellingham himself believes the new role suits his strengths.
"I feel more free to decide when to drop back, when to stay up or when to get into the box," he told Real Madrid TV. "I think this is the best position for me."
Mourinho still demands defensive work from the midfielder, but the key difference is where that work takes place.
Instead of regularly retreating towards his own penalty area, Bellingham can use his energy to press opponents higher up the pitch.
That means when Madrid regain possession, he is already positioned closer to Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, allowing him to quickly connect midfield and attack.
Mourinho has also stressed that Madrid's attacking stars must operate collectively rather than as individuals.
"The team dynamic is about 11, not 2+9," he said.
Bellingham has described working with Mourinho as a "dream", having met the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager only once before his appointment.
Their early relationship appears strong, with Mourinho repeatedly emphasising Bellingham's importance to his plans.
Mourinho has described the England international as a "unique and super important player", praising the physical, mental and tactical qualities that make him such a complete midfielder.
He has even suggested Bellingham should be among the contenders for the Ballon d'Or.
"He is a unique kind of player and extremely important for the team," Mourinho said.
"His mental strength, tactical ability, the way he recovers the ball, the way he pressures, the way he plays up front, I am very happy."
Bellingham's versatility remains one of his greatest strengths. He can press, recover possession, score goals, compete in the air and carry the team forward with the ball.
Mourinho has also highlighted Thomas Tuchel's use of Bellingham at the World Cup as an example of how to maximise his attacking qualities.
Bellingham was one of England's standout performers at the tournament, producing seven goals and one assist across eight appearances.
That form appears to have provided another confidence boost despite the midfielder returning to Madrid later than most of his team-mates and having less preparation time ahead of the new season.
Real Madrid's perfect opening remains only a small sample, but the early signs are encouraging.
Mourinho's side have won all three league matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding just twice. Greater tests will come as the campaign progresses and Champions League commitments add to the workload.
For Bellingham, however, Mourinho's tactical approach appears to have provided the ideal platform.
His ability to influence almost every area of a match has always made him special. The difference now is that Madrid are concentrating that influence where it can cause opponents the most damage.
After two challenging seasons following the exceptional standards of his first year in Spain, Bellingham is enjoying his football again.
"I'm having a lot of fun, I'm really enjoying my football, and that's why I'm performing well," he said.
If Bellingham maintains his early-season form and continues to flourish with Mourinho's backing, this could develop into his most influential campaign yet.
