Anthony Barry says England have found a way to let Jude Bellingham play more from instinct, and that has started to show in the output. He said the staff have found a solution to unlock all of Bellingham's potential in one game, with the midfielder roaming into dangerous spaces rather than being pinned down in one role. That has also fed the growing talk around Real Madrid and a new contract.

England's setup and Bellingham's freedom

Barry's description was clear. "The structure allows him to play more from his intuition… less from being locked down or caged in a certain position," he told mirror.co.uk. He added that the system lets Bellingham "roam and operate in spaces that he thinks he can be dangerous" and said the squad have found a way to give him "a space where he can do it all at once inside of one game."

That lines up with the way Bellingham has been used for England, including as a No 6 in Barry's words. Against Croatia, he produced 1 goal and 3 assists, a direct return that matches the idea of a player who is not being asked to stay in one lane. Across his last three Nations League appearances, he has 1 goal and 4 assists.

The praise and the contract noise

The praise has gone beyond England's coaching staff. Toni Kroos called Bellingham one of the most complete midfielders in the world and said he could be the best when at his best. Gary Lineker was even more expansive, saying Bellingham could end up as England's GOAT player. Micah Richards offered a more measured view, saying Bellingham does not have the flair of Cole Palmer or the touch of Phil Foden, but is a 9 out of 10 in everything else.

The money talk is following the football. Reports say Bellingham is already on around €20 million per season at Real Madrid, with a proposed rise to above €30 million per season. His current deal runs until 2029, and the reports point to a new agreement expected to run until at least 2031. Madrid are also hopeful of getting it done before the end of 2026, although another report has framed the target more loosely as before the end of the year.

For Madrid, this is the straightforward part of elite squad building. Bellingham is already being treated like a core star, and the club's next move is to match the status his performances are building. The contract talks are not being driven by hype alone, because his England form has given the discussion real weight.

The latest marker is the one against Croatia, where he had four direct goal involvements. The next marker is a new Madrid deal, and the reported timeline still points to 2026 for completion and at least 2031 on the term.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →