'Keep his mouth shut' - Carlo Ancelotti sends message to Jude Bellingham over referee gesture

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confessed that Jude Bellingham has learned to «keep his mouth shut» when it comes to dealing with referees in La Liga.

Bellingham recently claimed he was being unfairly targeted by La Liga officials after he was controversially sent off and suspended for his response to a disallowed goal against Valencia in March.

Now back in action against Athletic Club on Sunday, Bellingham was once again left frustrated by a referee call, but rather than challenge the decision, he instead made a point of zipping his mouth closed and walking away.

«I don't know what Jude Bellingham thinks about the refereeing here, but he has learned very well what he has to do, which is to keep his mouth shut,» Ancelotti laughed after the game.

Bellingham grabbed an assist on his return from a two-game ban but has found himself under pressure after failing to maintain his outstanding goalscoring form from the start of the season.

The midfielder netted twice against Girona in February but has only scored one more goal so far in 2024, having racked up 17 in his 21 appearances for Madrid in 2023.

«Bellingham was not as fresh today as he usually is,» Ancelotti reflected. «He played two very intense games for England and he paid for it a little bit today.

»When I speak about intensity it's because it was lacking a little bit today, like with Bellingham and [Fede] Valverde. Everyone has to be at their best level to beat [Manchester] City. Bellingham has played very well for the national team and that work today will help him in the coming games."

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