The former Jude Bellingham has left Real Madrid in quest of a new Toni Kroos.

Unquestionably, Toni Kroos’s absence has hurt Real Madrid this year. It’s obvious that people are missing the German maestro, who was renowned for his superb football intellect, deft ball movement, and ability to manage the tempo.

Madrid’s midfield now lacks his presence, which has negatively impacted the team’s performance as a whole. Real Madrid has found it difficult to retain the agility and precision that once characterized their performances in the absence of Kroos at the controls.

The most thing about Kroos’ absence may not be that guys like Vinicius Jr. or Rodrygo are suffering, but rather that Jude Bellingham appears to be the most negatively impacted.

It has been a difficult season so far for Bellingham, who was supposed to step up and fill the vacuum left by Kroos.

The young Englishman’s performances have not yet reached the same heights as they did the previous season, and he has felt the weight of the obligation of taking on Kroos’ role in the team.

His lackluster performance in front of goal this term tells volumes about how hard it is for him to adjust to his new position.

There are figures to back up this theory.

Bellingham gained notoriety the previous season for his dominant plays. He was known for his trademark two-arm celebrations, which came to represent his domination on the field.

But Bellingham’s goal celebrations have been conspicuously missing this season. His ability to strike the back of the net has decreased, but his drive and intensity have not changed.

The expectations are high because Bellingham raised the bar for himself the previous season, emerging as a surprising contender for the league’s leading scorer after having already scored six goals by this stage in the campaign.

In sharp contrast to his prolific play from the previous season, Bellingham has failed to reach the net after the same number of games this time around. His ability to score goals has failed him despite his greatest attempts.

Bellingham’s position has evolved.

The signing of Kylian Mbappé and the return of Vinicius Jr. have altered Real Madrid’s tactical approach, therefore it’s vital to realize that the dynamics are different this season.

Bellingham’s position has changed, and he isn’t as often in the opposition’s penalty area as he was during the 2023–24 campaign. He has not scored a single goal despite having 10 shots, one of which was close to equalizing against Lille in the closing seconds.

This is a stark contrast to the previous campaign, in which Real Madrid’s pivotal moments were frequently Bellingham’s goals.

Bellingham hasn’t scored many goals this season; instead, he has mostly been a creator. Real Madrid is not overly concerned about his play because he is still making contributions to the squad in other ways, but his inability to score goals has been a gaping hole in the squad’s lineup.

Bellingham’s goals could provide the squad much-needed momentum as their play hasn’t been consistent generally.

Bellingham is still an important player for Madrid despite his difficulties in front of goal. Although his work ethic, inventiveness, and team-building abilities are still apparent, the squad would undoubtedly profit from his returned scoring prowess.

While Bellingham is still producing, Real Madrid is currently looking for ways to get back into their groove. His goal-scoring ability would be a nice addition to a team that is having trouble finding its spark.