Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham has undergone successful surgery for a long-standing shoulder problem that has been plaguing him since 2023.
The 22-year-old is expected to miss the entire pre-season and at least the first six weeks of the new campaign, including England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia in September.
Bellingham had been managing the issue with strapping, but ultimately decided to undergo surgery to address the problem. The procedure was scheduled after Real Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign in the United States.
The midfielder’s recovery will involve a period of rehabilitation before returning to training. Real Madrid’s new manager, Xabi Alonso, will have to navigate the start of the La Liga season without Bellingham, who joined the club from Borussia Dortmund for £115m two years ago.
Bellingham had a successful first season with Real Madrid, winning the La Liga title and Champions League, scoring 23 goals in 43 appearances. However, his participation has been impacted by the shoulder issue, and his absence will be felt by both Real Madrid and England in the coming weeks.
