Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is cautiously hopeful that Jude Bellingham could return to action before October, while the midfielder of England continues his recovery of shoulder operation.
The 22-year-old has been sidelined since he undergoes an operation in July to tackle a long-term left-shoulder problem that had plagued him since 2023, forcing him to play for both club and country by discomfort.
«I want to be a bit optimistic and hope he can be back before October. He is starting to do a number of things with the group. He has made a great effort in his recovery. He feels very good,» Alonso told a press conference on Friday while his side is preparing to travel to Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Bellingham, who came to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund two years ago, finally decided to go under the knife after the club World Cup in the US after reaching his breaking point with the persistent injury. «I was tired of playing with the pendulum,» he said in June, because I had often seen shoulder straps during matches.
The injury was against Rayo Vallecano for the first time, so that he missed two games for both Real Madrid and England at the end of 2023.
Read also | Liverpool Manager Slot calls for patience with a new recruit Isak
The LaLiga leaders would give his potential return a huge boost, which sits next to Athletic Bilbao with nine points after winning all three opening matches.
Fresh from an international break of two weeks, Alonso is satisfied with the condition of his team while preparing for a demanding period that includes their Champions League opener against Olympique de Marseille on Tuesday.
«The most important thing is that everyone has returned healthy, that we have not had any injury problems,» he said, set his sights on maintaining their perfect start in the challenging Aneta Stadium.
«It will be demanding, every match is very important, both in La Liga and in the Champions League, and these points can be decisive in the long term. We must learn how to approach every match and concentrate on well preparing,» said Alonso.
«During these international breaks we have to set short -term goals to get us until April and May. We don’t want to lose the focus. It is a way to talk about it and organize our thoughts by distributing goals and minutes.»
Published on September 12, 2025
