English midfielder Jude Bellingham, one of Real Madrid’s biggest stars, will be sidelined for three to four months due to a serious shoulder injury. The information was released by Spanish journalist Alberto Pereiro on his Twitter account and quickly spread among fans and European media outlets. According to Pereiro, the player will undergo surgery shortly after the FIFA Club World Cup, a competition in which Real Madrid will participate at the end of the season. The medical decision to postpone the procedure aims to allow the athlete to contribute to the club in the tournament before beginning the recovery process, which should extend until the start of next season.
The injury, which had been bothering Bellingham for several weeks, worsened during recent training sessions, making it impossible to postpone surgery much longer. According to sources close to the club, the midfielder had been playing with significant pain, but his determination and commitment made him try to avoid a break. However, Real Madrid’s medical team considered the risk too high and opted to suspend the player’s activities. As a result, the 21-year-old star is expected to miss a significant portion of pre-season and the first few rounds of La Liga 2025/26.
Since arriving at Real Madrid in June 2023, Jude Bellingham has become an essential piece in Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical system. His versatility, physical strength, and vision have transformed the Madrid midfield into a near-perfect machine. In just one season, the Englishman not only won the hearts of Real Madrid fans but also proved to be one of the most talented and decisive young players in world football. In his first year with the Spanish club, he scored 15 goals and provided 14 assists in 54 matches, numbers that highlight his immediate impact.
Bellingham, who arrived at Real from Borussia Dortmund for €113 million, exceeded expectations and quickly assumed a leadership role in the squad. His aggressive playing style, combining refined technique with intensity, made him a true engine of the Madrid midfield. For Ancelotti, Bellingham’s absence represents a significant tactical challenge. The Italian coach, known for his ability to adapt to different contexts, will have to restructure the team’s central midfield. Players like Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurélien Tchouaméni will likely be called upon more to compensate for the Englishman’s absence, while Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos—both veterans—could be called upon to play more regular roles.
Real Madrid had been heavily relying on the youth of its midfield as a way to ensure a smooth transition between generations. Bellingham’s injury, therefore, momentarily interrupts this process and requires an immediate readjustment in the technical planning. Recovery from a shoulder injury, especially when it involves surgery, is usually long and delicate. The prognosis of three to four months of absence includes not only the period of immobilization and physiotherapy, but also the time needed for the player to regain his physical form and confidence on the field.
Sports medicine specialists state that, in Bellingham’s case, the decision to operate is prudent. Although he could continue playing with conservative treatment, this would increase the risk of aggravating the injury and compromising his career in the long term.
Even with the forced break, Jude Bellingham has already built an impressive legacy in a short time at Real Madrid. His ability to decide games, his charisma on and off the field, and his professional attitude have made him an instant idol at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Spanish fans see him as the natural successor to the club’s great legends, and his absence will leave a void not only technically, but also emotionally. However, the board believes that this break will only be a minor setback in the trajectory of a player who still has much to offer. Real Madrid plans to continue investing in the young midfielder, ensuring full medical and psychological support during his recovery. The expectation is that he will return fully recovered by the end of the year, in a position to resume the leading role that established him as one of the most promising players of his generation.
