Carlo Ancelotti says Jude Bellingham’s personality is the reason he adapted so quickly to life at Real Madrid.
Bellingham is the top scorer in LaLiga with five goals in four games this season and he also starred for England in their 3-1 win over Scotland in midweek.
The midfielder’s goal ensured Madrid have achieved maximum points so far and top the standings ahead of Sunday’s match against Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu.
“Good players who have personality suffer less than others,” Ancelotti said in a press conference on Saturday, when asked to explain the speed of his adaptation, as quoted by ESPN.
“There’s no other reason. A player with personality above all else, more than just quality, means an important shirt like Real Madrid’s isn’t that important.”
Ancelotti said he was not worried about Bellingham being distracted by praise for his performance.
“Bellingham is currently being judged based on what he does on the pitch, and he does it well,” he added. “Maybe he wasn’t so famous because he played in Germany, he didn’t have the role he has now, playing for an important club in an important league.
“He is a very focused player, very serious, very professional. He is not someone who can lose his head if someone speaks well of him.”
Bellingham’s goal has helped Madrid cope without Vinícius Júnior, after the striker suffered a thigh injury during their 1-0 win at Celta Vigo on August 25.
The team now enters a busy period, with a match against Real Sociedad followed by a Champions League group match against Union Berlin on Wednesday, and then the derby against Atletico Madrid on September 24.
“I can’t give an exact date [for Vinicius’ return],” Ancelotti said. “He’s recovering very well. We’re not going to push his recovery, but the tear is almost completely [healed]… Next week he’ll start doing some training with the team and we’ll see. I think he’ll do it.” will be back sooner than the six weeks said.”
Ancelotti joked that he found Vinicius “crying in the dressing room” after the Brazil international was left off the shortlist for this week’s The Best FIFA award.
“He is very sad,” Ancelotti said with a smile. “He cried for three or four hours. We can’t stop it.”
