Xabi Alonso Optimistic About Jude Bellingham’s Recovery
Xabi Alonso has expressed hope for an accelerated recovery timeline for Jude Bellingham, who has resumed training ahead of expectations following shoulder surgery. The 22-year-old midfielder for Real Madrid had the procedure in July after the team was knocked out of the Club World Cup, which initially sidelined him for 10 to 12 weeks—suggesting an expected return in early October.
Training Resumption and Upcoming Matches
This week, Bellingham participated in some training activities alongside his teammates, raising the possibility of him returning to action sooner than initially anticipated, especially with a key derby against Atlético Madrid scheduled for September 27. “I want to be a bit optimistic and hope that Jude can come back before October,” Alonso remarked in a press conference as his team prepares for an upcoming clash with Real Sociedad.
Alonso noted that while Bellingham has been included in group training, precautions remain as he is still avoiding contact to protect his shoulder. The coach acknowledged Bellingham’s significant efforts towards his recovery, stating, “He feels very good. Not for the game tomorrow, but hopefully next week he can make more progress and train like an ordinary player. We’re eager to see him back when he’s ready.”
Bellingham has been managing shoulder issues since a dislocation last November and indicated that the surgery was overdue. After facing Real Sociedad, Madrid will kick off their Champions League journey against Marseille on Tuesday, before playing LaLiga fixtures against Espanyol and Levante, leading up to the derby.
Squad Updates and Player Performance
Reflecting on the current squad, Alonso characterized the recent international break as advantageous, particularly since several prominent players like Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Éder Militão were not called up for their national teams, allowing them to rest and prepare following a perfect start to the season with three wins out of three.
Despite the growing speculation and previous links of Rodrygo’s potential departure, Alonso has yet to field all three — Vinícius, Rodrygo, and Kylian Mbappé — in the starting lineup together. He emphasized, “They can play together; they’ve done it frequently before, but we haven’t ruled this out at all. It’s merely been three games.”
Alonso also provided an update on Eduardo Camavinga, acknowledging that the injured midfielder could join the squad soon, barring any complications, and he praised Mbappé’s form, noting that the iconic forward has netted three goals in the league and made significant contributions for France lately. “Kylian is in excellent shape, both on and off the pitch, and he’s evolving into a leadership role. We require him to maintain this momentum,” Alonso said.
