Alvaro Arbeloa has placed Jude Bellingham at the heart of his Real Madrid project, hailing the England international as both a present-day leader and the foundation on which the club intends to build its next great side.

The coach’s admiration goes far beyond Bellingham’s highlight reels. Arbeloa describes a player whose influence is as strong in training as it is under the Bernabéu floodlights. Recovering from shoulder surgery, Bellingham eased his way into the new campaign, but his recent performances have underlined why Madrid invested so heavily in him. His goal in a 6-1 demolition of Monaco in Europe was the latest reminder of his ability to bend big occasions to his will.

“From day one, I’ve seen a player with exceptional quality and abilities,” Arbeloa said, stressing that television does not fully capture Bellingham’s impact. Up close, he sees a footballer obsessed with setting standards. The coach even admitted he had to tell Bellingham to stop running in training 48 hours after a match, a rare intervention that underlined the midfielder’s relentless drive.

That intensity has translated into end product. Bellingham has contributed goals in both LaLiga and the Champions League, but his role is broader than statistics. He drops deep to help build play, surges into the box to finish moves, and constantly offers passing options between the lines. Arbeloa highlighted his timing of runs, his shooting, and his reading of the game as qualities that make him unusually complete for his age.

Off the pitch, Bellingham has faced scrutiny and online rumours about his lifestyle. When he responded to that noise with a “drinking gesture” celebration after scoring against Monaco, it was a pointed, almost playful rebuttal. He later explained that he prefers to “roll with it and enjoy it,” insisting he knows the reality of his personal life and his commitment to the team.

Arbeloa, who has been unwavering in his support, believes that combination of personality and talent is exactly what Real Madrid needs. In his view, Bellingham is not just another star in a galaxy of them, but the player around whom the club’s next era will be constructed. “He’s going to be the cornerstone of this Real Madrid for many years,” the coach said, leaving little doubt about where he sees the future of the team.