There is no shortage of handwring in the Spanish capital about Vinicius Junior and his disciplinary record in the past two seasons. After his red card against Osasuna for deviating opinions on Saturday, Jude Bellingham's own problems with discipline are also very much on their radar.
Bellingham protested that he had not insulted the referee against Osasuna, where manager Carlo Ancelotti claimed that 'F *** off' is not offensive in his press conference after the game. However, how implicitly in their defense – that Bellingham had not said 'f *** you' – was a recognition that Bellingham was lucky to avoid punishment against Atletico Madrid last week, which was not an isolated incident.
Marca makes a direct comparison between Vinicius and Bellingham and brand that both players have missed five games in the last 18 months because of the suspension (if the two-game ban from Bellingham is confirmed). Regardless of whether the dismissals are correct or not, Ancelotti is reportedly concerned about the increasing tendency of Bellingham to get into trouble with the officials.
Last season, Bellingham gathered nine yellow cards and a red, and this season he is on schedule to surpass that, with seven bookings and a broadcast according to his name this season. Between the couple, Real Madrid has benefited from 116 goals and assists since Bellingham arrived, but has also seen the yellow flash 38 times and three more red. Last season it was against Valencia that after the last whistle, Bellingham shouted loudly in the face of the referee, which also ended in a resignation.
Real Madrid is planning to address the suspension of Bellingham, but he will miss matches against Girona in the Santiago Bernabeu and an away game to the Benito Villamarin to cope with real betis the following week. If he records a booking against Manchester City on Wednesday, Bellingham will also be suspended for the first stage of a potential Champions League round of 16 collision too.
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