"The only reality" - Jude Bellingham hits out at trolls amid Real Madrid rift rumors
Jude Bellingham has rubbished rumors of a rift with Real Madrid teammates Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Rodrygo Goes. The English midfielder returned to action for Los Blancos in the 3-1 Champions League win over VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday night (September 17).
Bellingham joined the La Liga giants from Borussia Dortmund in a reported €103m move last summer. The 21-year-old was quick off the blocks at the Santiago Bernabeu, establishing himself as a first-team regular under Carlo Ancelotti.
The youngster played a key role for Real Madrid as they won the La Liga, the Champions League, and the Supercopa de Espana last season. He finished the campaign with 23 goals and 13 assists from 42 games across competitions.
The Spanish champions opted to bolster their attack by roping in long-term target Kylian Mbappe this summer following the expiry of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Recent reports have stated that the French superstar's arrival has created tension behind the scenes at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It has been suggested that Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo Goes do not see eye to eye, while there have also been rumors of a rift between Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. However, the Englishman has rubbished those claims.
As cited by Madrid Zone, he insisted that the four players share a cordial relationship on and off the pitch.
"I have seen on social media that they're trying to create something negative with me, Mbappé, Rodrygo & Vinícius and the only reality is that we're very good friends on and off the pitch," said Bellingham.
Jude Bellingham is one of six Real Madrid players on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or this year.
Can Jude Bellingham be decisive for Real Madrid this season?
It is quite likely that Jude Bellingham's role in the Real Madrid team will change this year following Kylian Mbappe's arrival. The Englishman operated in a very attacking role for Los Blancos last season and was highly successful.
However, with the added firepower of the French superstar in Carlo Ancelotti's arsenal, Bellingham may have to pick up more defensive responsibilities. Mbappe prefers to play from the left but has been used in a center-forward role so far by Ancelotti.
However, one can imagine Bellingham will have enough opportunities to showcase his attacking prowess as the season progresses. He missed four games with a muscle injury this season but is now back to full fitness.