Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is set to undergo surgery for a long-standing shoulder issue after the conclusion of the FIFA Club World Cup. The England international has been suffering from pain since November 2023, when he dislocated his shoulder during a La Liga match.
Since then, he has been playing with a concealed brace under his shirt. With Real Madrid focused on winning the Club World Cup, the surgery has been scheduled for after the final — meaning Bellingham may miss the start of the new La Liga season due to the recovery process.
“I’ve reached the point where I’m tired of the brace, its tightness, and other players grabbing me there, having to adjust it all the time,” Bellingham told DAZN after Real Madrid’s 3-1 win over Pachuca in Charlotte.
“I’ve got a surgery scheduled after the tournament, I think a few days after the final, and I’ll go and get it done to fix my shoulder. I’m really happy about that — I’ve been waiting for it for a while. I’ve run out of patience with the brace.”
“The physio and doctor here have been exceptional; they’ve helped me to keep playing regularly. But now I’m at the point where I want to have my shoulder free and my body free from that brace.”
According to reports, the recovery after surgery could take up to 12 weeks, which means that in addition to missing the opening La Liga matches, Bellingham could also be absent from England’s World Cup qualifiers in September against Andorra and Serbia.
