Real Madrid has been dealt a significant setback with the news that star midfielder Jude Bellingham has suffered a muscle injury in his right leg during training. The club’s medical team has diagnosed Bellingham with a ‘lesion in the thin plantar muscle of his right leg’, and he is expected to be sidelined for approximately one month.The 21-year-old English international will miss several crucial matches for both Real Madrid and the England national team. For Real Madrid, Bellingham is set to be absent for upcoming La Liga fixtures against Real Valladolid, Las Palmas, Real Betis, Real Sociedad, and potentially RCD Espanyol. Additionally, he may miss the team’s first Champions League group stage match, scheduled between September 17-19.Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti addressed the situation in a press conference, stating, ‘Jude Bellingham has been injured, he is currently undergoing evaluation’. The injury comes at a time when Bellingham had been making a significant impact for Real Madrid, having scored 19 goals and provided six assists in La Liga since his £89 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund last summer.The absence of Bellingham will force Ancelotti to adjust his midfield strategy. Potential replacements include Luka Modric, Arda Guler, Brahim Díaz, and Dani Ceballos. However, the team’s options are further limited as Eduardo Camavinga is also recovering from an injury and unavailable.Despite this setback, Ancelotti remains focused on the team’s performance, particularly in their attacking play. ‘With such an attacking team, the forwards have to work a bit harder. We have tried to fix it with a lot of work this week,’ he commented.The injury also impacts England’s UEFA Nations League campaign, as Bellingham will miss matches against the Republic of Ireland on September 7 and Finland on September 10.As Real Madrid prepares for their upcoming matches without Bellingham, the club will be closely monitoring his recovery process, hoping for a swift return to action for their key midfielder.
Key points
- Jude Bellingham has suffered a muscle injury in his right leg and is expected to be out for about a month.
- Bellingham will miss several La Liga matches, potentially the first Champions League group stage game, and England’s UEFA Nations League fixtures.
- Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will need to adjust his midfield strategy in Bellingham’s absence.
Contradictions👾While most sources agree on a one-month absence for Bellingham, there are slight variations in the exact duration and the specific matches he might miss.
