REAL MADRID'S BELLINGHAM TO MISS 12 WEEKS AFTER SHOULDER SURGERY

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Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is anticipated to be sidelined for as long as 12 weeks recuperating from a shoulder procedure following the Spanish powerhouses’ announcement on Wednesday that he had successfully completed the surgery.

“Our player Jude Bellingham has undergone successful surgery for a recurrent left shoulder dislocation,” said Real Madrid in a statement.

“Bellingham will now begin a period of rehabilitation prior to his return to recovery work.”

While Madrid did not specify the expected length of his recovery time, Spanish media have reported it will take around 12 weeks for him to return to action.

Bellingham has been struggling with shoulder discomfort after dislocating it in a La Liga match in November 2023, and playing with a brace under his shirt since then.

The England midfielder postponed the procedure until following Madrid’s involvement in the Club World Cup this summer, with Xabi Alonso’s team advancing to the semi-finals.

Bellingham is anticipated to be unavailable for the La Liga encounter against arch-rivals Atletico Madrid in late September, as well as the club’s initial two Champions League fixtures.

The 22-year-old midfielder should be back in action by the time Madrid host Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season in late October.

“I’ve got the point where… I’m fed up with the brace, and having to tug on it and having (other) players tug on it, and it rearranging all the time,” said Bellingham during the Club World Cup.

The midfielder will also miss World Cup qualifiers with England against Andorra and Serbia on September 6 and 9 respectively.

AFP