Jude Bellingham has not enjoyed the kind of start that he did in his debut season at Real Madrid in 2023/24.
While the 21-year-old Englishman has shown fleeting glimpses of his quality, the fact that he has yet to score a goal this season is surprising, given how he performed last season.
The Athletic reports that there is a sense of belief in the Real Madrid camp that the England midfielder is being affected by the shoulder issue that has been bothering him since last year.
Surgery not ruled out
In fact, the report states that the staff at Real Madrid believe that Bellingham needs to undergo surgery at some point to fix the shoulder problem and avoid any future dislocations.
Everyone at Madrid assumes that Bellingham will eventually undergo surgery, but so far, the schedule has not allowed for it, and the player has been managing the issue with the assistance of the physiotherapists.
After Bellingham sustained a muscle injury in August, it was anticipated he would be sidelined for about a month. The club contemplated performing surgery on his shoulder, but ultimately decided against it due to the significantly longer recovery time that would have entailed.
Sources from the coaching staff believe that the midfield rising star would require approximately two months to fully recuperate.
For now, Real Madrid are willing to be patient while closely monitoring Bellingham’s condition and seeking medical guidance on the most appropriate steps to take.
However, another dislocation for the ex-Borussia Dortmund man could lead to additional complications, which is why everyone is exercising caution.
Shoulder protection back on
Following his first shoulder injury back in November last year, Bellingham started wearing a protector on the affected area. He played a number of matches wearing the orthosis last season.
Heading into the Euros in the summer, the England star was understood to be feeling much better about the condition of his shoulder. As such, when the season started, he stopped wearing the protector.
Sources from Madrid indicate that he requested to stop using the device, as he felt it hindered his ability to breathe normally during matches. These sources also noted that they believed the device slightly restricted his mobility, particularly his jumping ability.
However, since the match against Espanyol, when he hurt his shoulder again, Bellingham has resumed wearing shoulder protection, with both the player and the club acknowledging its importance despite the inconveniences it may cause.