Real Madrid Midfielder Jude Bellingham Regrets Delayed Surgery

Since his arrival at Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham has contended with various injury issues, most recently overcoming a hamstring tear. His participation in last weekend’s Madrid derby marked his return after a seven-week absence. While Bellingham confessed to the mental toll of this recovery period, he revealed it wasn't the most difficult challenge he's faced during his tenure at the Bernabéu.

Months into his Real Madrid career, specifically last November, Bellingham dislocated his shoulder during a match against Rayo Vallecano. Though he initially missed only a couple of weeks, this injury ultimately led to him undergoing surgery nearly two years later.

Speaking on his JB5 app, Bellingham recounted the initial injury against Rayo, describing it as the most intense pain he had ever experienced.

“It all started on the day of the match against Rayo. It was the most painful sensation I had gone through so far. I felt like it took forever until they put it back in place… and it was only 90 seconds from when they entered the field.”

Bellingham: "I Should Have Had Surgery Sooner"

This wasn't Bellingham's first shoulder injury. Previously, he opted against surgery—a decision he would come to regret years later.

“Previously, I was able to put it back in place myself when it came out. At the start of my final season at Dortmund, after a bad fall, I was already advised to have shoulder surgery. I knew something wasn't right, but it was August-September, and with the World Cup in December, I decided against it.”

He continued, “When I arrived in Madrid, I wasn't experiencing much pain. Everyone still told me I needed surgery, but it was my first year at Real Madrid, and I didn't want to leave the team for three months. The shoulder injury had a significant impact on the rest of my body. I didn’t have constant pain, but playing with the knowledge that it could dislocate again prevented me from performing at my best level.”

Bellingham also disclosed that he could have undergone surgery in the summer of 2024. However, after losing the Euro 2024 final to Spain, he didn't want that disappointment to be his last impression before a multi-month recovery.

“I didn’t want that to be my lasting feeling for three months, even though that would have been the optimal time for surgery. I chose to continue for another year, and I shouldn’t have. Last year taught me that I couldn't take winning for granted. Now, I feel physically better and can return to my previous level.”