A somber stillness enveloped the Santiago Bernabeu as Jude Bellingham failed to promptly rise to his feet during the encounter against Rayo Vallecano.
A collective sigh of relief echoed as Bellingham, albeit groggy, made his way back onto the pitch. However, the remainder of the goalless draw witnessed him grimacing, his shoulder heavily strapped, especially evident during an inadvisable throw-in.
Though few teams in Spain had managed to thwart the unstoppable 20-year-old, injuries spare no one, not even the exceptional talents. Stay tuned for the latest updates on Bellingham’s recovery, shedding light on how much longer fans of Real Madrid and the England national team must wait with bated breath.
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Carlo Ancelotti maintained his usual optimism when responding to Bellingham’s injury concern, stating, “I don’t think it is anything serious,” even before the initial scan had taken place.
The first examination confirmed that Bellingham had dislocated his shoulder while pursuing Isi Palazon’s airborne challenge. Despite a few captivating spins, it turned out to be Bellingham’s subdued performance in a Madrid shirt. The limited threat from his teammates contradicted Ancelotti’s pre-match assertion that Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo would outscore Bellingham and Joselu.
After a subsequent evaluation, Bellingham found a place on the bench for Braga’s Champions League clash with Madrid on November 8. With Madrid securing a commanding 3-0 lead within the opening hour, dispelling any murmurs of ‘Bellingham-dependencia,’ the Englishman observed the rest of the game from the sidelines.
Ancelotti once again anticipated Bellingham’s involvement in Madrid’s final match before the November international break against Valencia. “Unless something strange happens,” declared Madrid’s coach, “he will play.”
Yet, an unexpected turn of events occurred. Just hours before Valencia’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid issued an official statement ruling Bellingham out of the match. The club disclosed that Bellingham had been “diagnosed with a case of anterior instability of the left shoulder, as a consequence of his recent dislocation.”
Seated in the stands alongside his mother Denise, Bellingham witnessed Rodrygo and Vinicius combining for four goals in a resounding 5-1 victory over Valencia.
Gareth Southgate harbors limited confidence in the medical departments of his players’ club teams. Despite Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka missing the Gunners’ last match before the October break, he underwent examination by England’s medical staff. Bellingham is poised to undergo a similar process, although the journey for the Real Madrid player will be more extensive than that of the London-based Saka.
Following Madrid’s decisive triumph over Valencia, Ancelotti was resolute that Bellingham would not participate in England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia this month.
“He will undergo evaluation, but I anticipate his swift return [to Spain],” the Italian asserted on Saturday, November 11. “If he did not play today, he cannot play for England. He needs to undergo specific shoulder-strengthening exercises in the coming weeks.”
Ancelotti also anticipated, “After the international break, I believe he will be ready to play again.” However, his previous trust in Bellingham’s recovery abilities has been proven wrong.