Jude Bellingham put Real Madrid in front during their Champions League play-off match against Manchester City, but his week quickly took a turn for the worse.
The England international received a red card in the first half, contributing to Los Blancos dropping two points in the Spanish title race on Saturday against Osasuna.
On the bright side, the midfielder will be fresh for the second leg against City at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, with Madrid holding a 3-2 advantage in the tie after their win at the Etihad Stadium last week.
Bellingham expressed regret for letting his teammates down due to his dismissal for dissent, even though he insisted the referee misinterpreted his words; he took the time to apologise to his fellow players.
All will be forgiven if he can help propel Madrid past Pep Guardiola’s City and into the last 16.
“I’ve said enough about the misunderstanding; I just want to apologise again for putting my team-mates in a tough position, and I appreciate the support and understanding from the fans,” Bellingham posted on social media.
“I’ll see you all on Wednesday, playing at home.“
This was his second red card for arguing with officials since joining Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023.
Despite his occasional frustrations with referees, Bellingham has largely enjoyed his time in Spain.
His goals proved vital as Madrid clinched La Liga last season, and he played a crucial role in securing the club’s record-extending 15th Champions League trophy at Wembley against his former club, Dortmund.
Bellingham was previously linked with City, but upon arriving at Madrid, he remarked that he got “goosebumps” when the Spanish giants expressed interest, saying his heart nearly stopped.
“I was aware of the interest from England, so that was quite normal,” he said after his move.
“Money isn’t a priority for me. I never think about money when making decisions like these. I play the game purely for the love of it…
“It wasn’t that other teams were inferior; it’s just that for me, Madrid is the greatest.“
Bellingham’s Big Moment
In a fairytale first season, Bellingham scored 23 goals in 43 matches across all competitions and even converted a penalty in the Champions League quarter-final shootout against City.
He has consistently excelled in Madrid’s pivotal matches.
The 21-year-old netted crucial goals in both league Clasicos last season and scored against Girona, who were, for much of the season, Madrid’s main title rivals.
In the Champions League, he assisted Vinicius for a goal in the final against Dortmund and scored four times during the group stage.
This season, with the arrival of French superstar Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham has taken on a slightly more defensive role, which initially made it harder for him to find his attacking rhythm.
He went without scoring in his first 12 matches, having reached double figures by the same time last season.
However, coach Carlo Ancelotti backed the midfielder to return to form and praised his work in a more defensive capacity.
Eventually, Bellingham rediscovered his scoring touch, netting 10 times in his last 20 outings and contributing six assists.
The latest of those goals came in the 92nd minute against City, giving Madrid the upper hand.
Although the days following have been tumultuous, by the time the Champions League anthem rings out at the Bernabeu, Bellingham will be solely focused on delivering the goods.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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