Mourinho has placed Bellingham as a number 10 in a 4-2-3-1, operating behind Kylian Mbappé and with licence to drift across the attacking line.
That is a major shift from the all-action version of Bellingham who, at times last season, was asked to plug gaps all over the field. Mourinho’s point is not that defensive work has no value. It is that too much of it blunts a rare attacking weapon.
The early return has been loud.
Those numbers fit the eye test. Bellingham looks freer, sharper and more decisive around the final third. That matters even more after two campaigns interrupted by physical issues, including a long-standing shoulder problem and a hamstring setback. If Real Madrid can keep him higher, they may also be protecting his body as much as sharpening his end product.
Mourinho has described Bellingham as a “unique and super important player”, and that feels like the heart of the argument. Play him as a six or a deeper eight, and you still get quality. Play him near the box, and you may get a match-winner.
That is the balance to watch now. Real Madrid have made a fast start, but the bigger examination will come when Champions League nights arrive and stronger opponents force tougher tactical choices. If Bellingham keeps this freedom, his goal threat could become one of the defining stories of the season.