After undergoing shoulder surgery, Bellingham will miss the crucial early stages of the season. The English player has been plagued by injuries for over a year, unable to play at 100% fitness. However, after being eliminated from the Club World Cup, he underwent surgery to achieve a full recovery.
Real Madrid's medical staff estimate he will be sidelined for three to four months. This means his return will be no earlier than late October, and could be as late as November or December. This is a significant loss for Alonso, who must assemble a top-level squad without Bellingham.
However, positive news emerged this Friday: Bellingham was photographed jogging on the sidelines for the first time. Just 30 days after his injury, the Englishman has already begun preparations for his return to the pitch.
From the club's perspective, they do not want to rush the midfielder's return, ensuring he fully recovers and avoids returning to action with any lingering issues. Additionally, Alonso has several players capable of filling Bellingham's role, such as Díaz, Güler, and new signing Mastantuono.
Among the key matches the Englishman is likely to miss are two of the toughest fixtures in the first half of the season. Real Madrid will face Atlético Madrid in the 7th round of the league, with this derby match scheduled to take place on the weekend of September 28th. If the timeline holds, Bellingham should miss the first major showdown of the season.
Furthermore, the El Clásico will be held in late October. While theoretically Bellingham should be able to make it, his return is likely to be cautious given his long-term injury layoff and lack of match fitness. Monitoring his post-surgery recovery progress will be key to determining the length of his absence.
During these months, he will also miss the opening matches of the Champions League group stage, although the fixture list has not yet been announced.
