Jude Bellingham continues to play with 'problem', could undergo surgery after Euro 2024 and be out for 2 months at Real Madrid: Reports
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is reportedly playing through a shoulder 'problem' for England at EURO 2024, according to reports from Relevo. The midfielder has been a top performer in the Three Lions' run to the final, in which he will be expected to start and play throughout.
Bellingham first suffered the injury in Real's 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano in a La Liga fixture in November 2023. His left shoulder was dislocated, which ruled him out of action for a month.
To avoid surgery, he has been playing with a pad on his shoulder since his return. His presence made a difference, as he bagged 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions.
Bellingham helped Real Madrid lift the La Liga, Supercopa de Espana and UEFA Champions League titles. He was called up by England manager Gareth Southgate for EURO 2024, in which he has been the difference-maker once again.
He scored the winner in the Three Lions' opener against Serbia (1-0). In the Round of 16 against Slovakia, his side were 1-0 down for the majority of the game. Staring down the barrel of defeat in the 95th minute, the 20-year-old produced an astounding overhead kick to force extra time, in which England pulled off the victory.
Having played almost every minute at EURO 2024 so far (missed 19 minutes), Bellingham will be expected to play throughout the final against Spain (July 14). However, Real Madrid fear that he will need to go under the knife upon the conclusion of the tournament.
Upon the conclusion of EURO 2024, Real's medical staff will reportedly conduct a thorough check to estimate the extent of the injury and conclude whether surgery is immediately needed.
If Jude Bellingham undergoes shoulder surgery, he could miss 2 months of action for Real Madrid - Reports
According to reports from Relevo, should Jude Bellingham opt for a shoulder surgery after EURO 2024, he could potentially miss two months of action for Real Madrid.
The shoulder injury has been nagging the English superstar since November 2023. Since a surgery could keep him out of action for two months, he has opted against it so far to fulfil his responsibilities with club and country.
Even if Bellingham is sidelined for two months at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, coach Carlo Ancelotti will have enough injury cover at his disposal. With the arrival of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, the Englishman is expected to move into a deeper midfield role.
Real Madrid have no dearth of midfielders, with their squad consisting of some of the best midfielders in the world. The likes of Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modric and Arda Guler will make sure that Ancelotti does not feel the absence of his star midfielder.