Xabi Alonso outlines plan to pair Arda Güler with Jude Bellingham: #10 locked, roles to flow

Xabi Alonso has mapped out a complementary blueprint for Arda Güler and Jude Bellingham, stressing that access to the #10 zone remains crucial for Bellingham while Güler can operate from deeper lines. The approach signals a fluid, comfort-first setup rather than rigid positions, aiming to unlock Madrid’s creativity without compromising balance. Early fan reaction is split: some want Güler as the primary 10 and Jude as an 8, others favor Arda as a controller near Tchouaméni. The takeaway: Alonso intends to keep Bellingham’s elite final-third threat central, with Güler knitting phases and drifting into damage zones.

In recent pre-match media remarks, Xabi Alonso emphasized that Jude Bellingham’s #10 territory remains a priority in his tactical design, while Arda Güler can drop into deeper lanes to build play and arrive late between lines. The comments come amid planning for fixtures where Real Madrid will need both control and thrust through the middle.

The discussion centers on how to integrate two high-initiative creators without tilting the midfield’s equilibrium, particularly alongside ball-winner/anchor profiles and runners ahead of the ball.

🚨 Xabi Alonso: “Arda and Jude can be complementary; we have to see how we position the other pieces. Getting to the #10 position, Bellingham’s, is very important for me. Arda has played further back and can do it. They have to flow and feel comfortable; because I’ve seen

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Alonso’s framework points to a structure that protects Jude Bellingham’s high-value behaviors in Zone 14 and the half-spaces—late arrivals, wall-passes around the box, and aggressive second-wave runs—while reframing Arda Güler as a connective 8/advanced controller. Practically, that can look like a 3-2-4-1/4-3-1-2 hybrid: Tchouaméni (anchor) plus a stabilizing 8 behind, with Güler stepping into the right interior to receive on the half-turn, link diagonally to Mbappé/Vini and feed Bellingham’s surges.

The upside is enormous. Bellingham’s gravity pins center-backs and 6s, freeing Güler to manipulate tempo and trigger rotations with the right-back/fullback lane. Arda’s deeper start gives him wider scanning angles, which suits his disguise passes and outside-to-inside switches. In pressing, Jude can spearhead central traps while Arda covers lanes behind the first line, shrinking distances for counterpress.

The risk is tilt: two high-usage creators can compress spacing if the second 8 doesn’t stagger properly or if the fullbacks push simultaneously. That’s why Alonso’s “flow and comfort” cue matters—staggered heights, one-touch exits under pressure, and a disciplined pivot are non-negotiable. If executed, Madrid get dual conductors: Jude in the red zone, Arda as the rhythm-setter. The ceiling is a midfield that both dictates and destroys in transition.

Reaction

Fan takes split fast. One camp argues Güler must own the #10—pointing to his chance-creation spikes and telepathic sequences with Mbappé—while Bellingham slides to an 8 for late-box impact. They highlight Arda’s micro-accelerations and disguise as qualities that vanish if he starts too deep. Another group counters that Jude’s output at 10 is elite-tier and non-negotiable; therefore, Arda’s best path is the right interior, threading buildup and arriving as a secondary creator. The “play Arda as a pivot with Tchouaméni” angle has supporters who want extra control and cleaner exits under pressure.

There’s also the pragmatic chorus: don’t drop either, just tune the structure by opponent. Against low blocks, stack creators centrally; versus high presses, lean on Güler’s outlet quality deeper and let Jude attack the vacated lanes. A cheeky subset dismisses the debate entirely—“world isn’t ready for both at their level”—viewing the duo as a cheat code. Mixed in are the usual off-topic brand plugs and market chatter that every viral thread drags along, but the core sentiment is clear: fans are intrigued, protective of their preferred star at 10, and impatient to see the experiment live.

Social reactions

Xabi, no, they can't.

FCMM (@skyyywalkerrr34)

I think Xabi's idea is for Arda to play as the pivot with Tchouameni.

Atmos (@ahmadatmos)

midfield of tchouameni arda and jude, no need to bench one for the other

𝑨 𝑷𝑶𝑹 𝑳𝑨 1️⃣6️⃣ (@vellyrmcf)

Prediction

Short term, expect Alonso to preserve Bellingham’s #10 primacy while piloting Güler as the right-sided 8 who can step into the pocket on rotations. In-possession shapes likely toggle between a 3-2-4-1 (fullback inverting) and a 4-3-1-2 with narrow wingers, giving Arda freedom to drop, bounce, and then burst into the seam once the back line is fixed by Mbappé/Vini. Against pressing teams, Arda’s deeper role will be emphasized to stabilize first and second phases; versus deep blocks, he’ll push closer to Jude to overload Zone 14.

Medium term, a soft specialization emerges: Bellingham remains the primary finisher/arriver in central channels, while Arda becomes the phase-connector whose risk profile scales with game state. If the balance tilts, expect a corrective: Rodrygo or a work-horse 8 added to widen rest-defense. Set plays also benefit—Güler’s delivery with Jude’s timing is high-EV. The bold scenario is a true dual-10 for specific fixtures, but only with a conservative pivot and asymmetric fullback behavior.

Bottom line: iterative micro-adjustments rather than a single, fixed template—yet the pairing stays intact.

Latest today

• Lucas Vázquez breaks silence on Negreira case: "Unbelievable" and "we were very aware" Lucas Vázquez breaks silence on Negreira case: "Unbelievable" and "we were very aware"
• Endrick chooses to stay at Real Madrid after Xabi Alonso warns of limited minutes Endrick chooses to stay at Real Madrid after Xabi Alonso warns of limited minutes
• Henrik Larsson says he urged Barcelona to sign Alexander Isak — and had Lewandowski on the same shortlist Henrik Larsson says he urged Barcelona to sign Alexander Isak — and had Lewandowski on the same shortlist
• Nagelsmann open to Thomas Müller joining Germany’s 2026 World Cup staff Nagelsmann open to Thomas Müller joining Germany’s 2026 World Cup staff

Conclusion

Alonso’s message threads the needle: maximize what makes Bellingham devastating in the red zones while empowering Güler to script the film from deeper lines. It rejects the false binary that two flair players must cannibalize each other; instead, it treats roles as fluid states, dictated by spacing, timing, and the opponent’s block. The success criteria are simple: layered staggering, disciplined rest-defense, and quick exits under pressure. Nail those, and Madrid add a second brain to the engine without dulling Jude’s knife edge.

Fans’ anxiety is understandable—everyone wants their favorite in the marquee slot. But the complementary path looks both logical and scalable. If comfort and flow are the watchwords, expect cleaner progressions, higher-quality final-third touches for Bellingham, and a version of Güler that influences more phases, more often. That’s how you make two stars bigger than the sum of their parts.