Ancelotti Assures Bellingham's Role Remains Unchanged with Mbappe's Arrival at Real Madrid

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti stated that Jude Bellingham's position will not be altered following Kylian Mbappe's transfer to the club. Bellingham, a 21-year-old England midfielder, had a remarkable debut season, playing an advanced role and scoring 23 goals in 42 appearances, contributing to the team's triumphs in La Liga and the Champions League.

Kylian Mbappe, a 25-year-old French striker, joined Real Madrid this summer on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain. Ancelotti emphasized that Bellingham would continue in his current role, saying, "Nothing changes for him. Nothing changes."

He noted that Bellingham's impressive performance last season, marked by his maturity and quality, would carry over into the next season. "He is going to be one of the best players that we have, supporting a lot the team with his quality," Ancelotti added.

The manager also defended Bellingham against criticisms regarding his performances at Euro 2024, where England advanced to the final. "This is an opinion but Bellingham played really well at the Euros," he said. He acknowledged England's strong performance, emphasizing that fatigue shouldn't be an issue for top players: "The most important players are used to playing every three days; they manage that really well and arrive at the end of the season without any problems."

Ancelotti also commented on Chelsea's managerial situation, urging the club's owners to exhibit patience. Chelsea has sacked Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, and Mauricio Pochettino since the change in ownership. As both Real Madrid and Chelsea wrap up their US tours, Ancelotti will face his compatriot Enzo Maresca in a match at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Tuesday. He remarked on Chelsea's squad, saying, "They invested a lot. They have a good squad, good players, young. They have a young manager. They need to be a little bit patient, the owners, to take experience, to grow. But the signings that they have [made] are really good."

Finally, Ancelotti addressed the speculation surrounding former Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, confirming that the club does not need to re-sign him: "We love him. We love him but in that position, we are covered."