Jude Bellingham nearing Real Madrid return, says Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso, the Real Madrid head coach, is hopeful Jude Bellingham could be in line for an early return to action after undergoing shoulder surgery.

The England midfielder went under the knife following Madrid’s run to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup this summer.

It was anticipated at the time that Bellingham would be out until October, but Alonso said the player was making encouraging progress and could return sooner.

“I want to be a bit optimistic and hope he can be back before October,” said the Spaniard, who takes his new side to Real Sociedad on Saturday. “He is starting to do some things with the group. He’s doing some partial training, without contact because we are protecting him. 

“Jude is making a great effort in his recovery, although he will not be with the squad [in San Sebastián]. Let’s see if he can take steps forward next week and, when we have a good feeling, we’ll be waiting for him.”

How Jude Bellingham dislocated his shoulder

Bellingham had been managing the injury to his left shoulder since November 2023, when he dislocated the joint in a league game against Rayo Vallecano. The problem became recurrent and, after playing through pain for more than a year and a half, the 22-year-old had surgery in London in July.

The midfielder, who made an £88.5m move from Real Madrid to Borussia Dortmund two summers ago, sustained the injury after falling forward as he slid to meet a low ball on his chest. A decision was taken to avoid surgery initially, and he played on with a shoulder brace. But by the time Club World Cup came around, it was clear his patience was running thin.

‘It’s been a long time coming’

“I’ve got to the point now where the pain isn’t so bad, it’s more being fed up with the brace and having to tug on it, and having players tug on it, and it rearranging all the time,” Bellingham told reporters in the United States. 

“Obviously in the heat it’s real hard, I’m losing so much weight and sweat[ing].

“It’s been a long time coming, but I think I’ve come to the end of my patience with the brace… I’m at that point now where I’m ready to have a free shoulder and a free body.”

Real Madrid currently sit top of La Liga, clear of Athletic Bilbao on goal difference after taking  maximum points from their first three three games.

With his squad unscathed following the international break, Alonso is hopeful the club can continue in winning vein at Real Sociedad, before hosting Marseille in the Champions League next week.

“The most important thing is that everyone has come back healthy, that we haven’t had any injury problems,” the Spaniard said ahead of the trip to the Anoeta stadium. “It will be demanding, every match is very important, both in La Liga and in the Champions League, and these points could be decisive in the long run.”