Jude Bellingham has been the star of La Liga so far this season, having made an immediate impact at Real Madrid.
The Englishman has scored four times in his opening three games, as the first Real Madrid player to score on each of his opening three appearances since Cristiano Ronaldo, and he has earned plaudits across Spain for his performances.
Bellingham netted the winner at Balaidos on Friday night as Real Madrid battled to victory against Celta Vigo, and he has now been praised by Carlo Ancelotti.
Speaking after the game, Ancelotti claimed that whilst Bellingham still has room to improve in front of goal, his performances have been excellent because of how well-rounded he is.
“I do not think he is yet top quality in the sense of being prolific in front of goal, but he has been performing at a high level,” he stated.
“He moves around well without the ball. He is very intelligent, he gets in the right place, in the right spot, at the right moment. It is not just about his ability in losing his marker, but it is about the whole package.”
Leading by example
As a young player coming into the Real Madrid side this summer, there is a lot of pressure on Bellingham to succeed given the size of club he has joined, and it would have been easy for him to hide in the background.
However, the departure of Karim Benzema, and injuries to key players such as Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois and now potentially Vinicius Junior, Bellingham has stepped up to lead Real Madrid, and delivered in key moments.
His goal at Balaidos came by sheer determination in what was a tough game for Los Blancos, and he almost single-handedly won his side the points.
His performances and attitude have been exemplary so far, and there will be plenty more to come from the 20-year-old, who has been a revelation in the Real Madrid midfield.