Real Madrid has set some great momentum at the beginning of this season. Los Blancos are in impeccable form, boasting a perfect 100% record in their opening three league games.
Unsurprisingly, they sit top of the league. This is the position they should have been in last season, but even one of the greatest managers of all time had an off-season.
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Real Madrid can only improve. Not all of their signings have hit the ground running yet, so that's to come. There is also one of their key players, Jude Bellingham, who is set to return from injury.
Reports suggest that Jude Bellingham will be available for the Madrid derby at the end of this month, currently scheduled to play out on September 28. This is impeccable news for Real Madrid fans, and shows he's recovering ahead of the expected timeframe.
But how easy will he find his route back to the first team?
Well, pretty easy. Jude Bellingham has to play, this is non-negotiable.
New Real Madrid signing will be benched for Jude Bellingham's return
It is semi up for debate about which player will make way from the starting eleven for Jude Bellingham. When digging into the options, though, it's clear which player will unfortunately step down.
It certainly won't be Fede Valverde, one of Real Madrid's most important players. He is the engine room, one of the captains, and the heartbeat of the team. Benching him is not an option.
It would be the least Real Madrid thing in the world to bench Valverde. While he could do with some rest, it's clear as day how much Real Madrid relies on him and if anything, he'll retire before he's benched.
It also won't be Aurelien Tchouameni, who's played every minute of the opening three games under Xabi Alonso. He's becoming perhaps even more important than last season, and his multifaceted nature only improves Alonso's squad depth.
So, it will be Franco Mastantuono who makes way for Jude Bellingham. This is the most logical change, since they're similar players and Mastantuono currently occupies Jude Bellingham's role in the squad.
The aim is certainly for Mastantuono to become a key figure in the Real Madrid squad, but at this point in time, he isn't nearly as irreplaceable as Jude Bellingham can be considered.
For now, he will learn from his mentor, Jude Bellingham, and over time, there may even be some healthy competition between the two Real Madrid players.