Details of Arbeloa’s one-on-one meeting with Real Madrid star ahead of Benfica game – report | OneFootball

Real Madrid will look to extend their winning run to five games in all competitions, as they take on Benfica at Estadio Da Luz this evening.

Ahead of this fixture, there has been a lot of noise surrounding Jude Bellingham and his form, with the Englishman notably meeting coach Alvaro Arbeloa before the match.

Now, Defensa Central has offered key details of the meeting and what took place between the two sides in Lisbon.

Details of Arbeloa’s talks with Bellingham

The report states that following the team dinner, Arbeloa sat down with Bellingham to discuss his specific role and his improvements over the last few weeks.

The message from the manager is that the player is interpreting the situation quite well and is heading in the right direction.

Can Bellingham make Real Madrid great again? (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Arbeloa used the meeting to reinforce the nuances of Bellingham’s new position. The coach does not want him to be merely a finisher, as he was in his debut season under Carlo Ancelotti, nor does he want him isolated on the left wing.

The objective is a hybrid role: Bellingham, who is facing a suspension risk heading into the Benfica game, must sacrifice defensively on the left flank, but he is encouraged to enjoy possession and dictate play when he has the ball.

Arbeloa emphasised that he values the quality of Bellingham’s sacrifice over just the quantity. This shift is already bearing fruit; the Englishman was the team’s top ball recoverer in the recent victories against Monaco and Villarreal.

Arbeloa has publicly hyped Bellingham as well. “Beyond his quality, I have seen a leader… The other day I had to tell him to stop running. He is going to be the cornerstone of Real Madrid for many years.”

However, it remains to be seen whether taming Bellingham in this crucial juncture works out for Los Blancos.