Bellingham’s Journey: Ancelotti’s Praise and England’s World Cup Prospects

Carlo Ancelotti, the former Chelsea and AC Milan manager, oversaw Jude Bellingham’s transfer to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund for £88 million ($115 million) in 2023. In their inaugural season together, they achieved remarkable success, winning both the Champions League and La Liga. However, the subsequent season proved more challenging, as their arch-rivals, Barcelona, claimed both the league title and the Copa del Rey. Following Ancelotti’s departure from the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this year, Bellingham took to Instagram to express his heartfelt gratitude for the guidance he received from the esteemed Italian manager.

In his post, Bellingham stated: “Mister, thank you for everything. It was a pleasure and a great experience to learn from the most successful manager of our club and one of the greatest of all time. What you have taught me about life and football will stick with me always, and I will be forever grateful. Good luck on your next journey, I wish you, your staff, and your family nothing but happiness!”

Ancelotti reciprocated the admiration earlier this week during an appearance on the Rest is Football podcast, where he lauded Bellingham as a top player, drawing comparisons to Brazilian legend Kaka. He refuted any suggestions regarding Bellingham’s attitude, particularly after his omission from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the October matches.

“I believe Jude is a fantastic player,” Ancelotti said. “If I have to compare him, we were discussing Kaka. He possesses similar qualities; he is a highly intelligent player, physically strong, and adept at arriving in the box at the right moment. He is performing exceptionally well. He may have faced a shoulder issue that sidelined him for two to three months, but now he is back. There should be no questions surrounding him.”

Ancelotti continued, “I never encountered any issues with Jude regarding his attitude. He is incredibly professional, serious, and dedicated in training, just like all English players. No complaints whatsoever.”

When asked if Bellingham ranks among the best midfielders globally, Ancelotti confidently affirmed, “What do you expect me to say? Of course, he is one of the best. I enjoyed a good relationship with him, and he contributed to our Champions League victory in 2024. I might be slightly biased in my assessment of Jude Bellingham, but he is an excellent player and a great individual.”

Following England’s 2-0 victory over Serbia in World Cup qualifying—where Bellingham was a second-half substitute—Ancelotti expressed optimism about England’s chances in the upcoming tournament in North America. He remarked, “England will undoubtedly be a formidable team. They possess exceptional quality and are guided by a fantastic manager. I observed their performance against Serbia, and they are a team brimming with talent. Although they may claim they are not contenders, I am confident they will compete fiercely for the World Cup.”

Despite returning to form and making an impression at Madrid, where he has scored three goals and provided an assist in 11 appearances, Bellingham faces stiff competition in the England squad, particularly from Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. However, Tuchel noted that the two players maintain a friendly relationship.

“It is a normal situation, but Morgan is one of Jude’s closest friends, so I don’t believe he feels any undue pressure. They are currently vying for the same position, yet they remain respectful and supportive of each other. Morgan has earned his spot on the pitch due to his outstanding performances, and we wanted to ensure our strategy was effective with the high press. It would be unfair to expect Jude to adapt quickly, given the changes in our pressing style over the last few camps. Players like Declan, Morgan, and Harry have already executed this strategy successfully in several matches together. Once we establish our formation, we can provide clear instructions to Phil and Jude and introduce them from the bench.”