Bad news for Real Madrid fans as star midfielder Jude Bellingham will miss the start of the La Liga season following successful shoulder surgery. The 22-year-old has been battling a long-standing shoulder issue that began in November 2023 when he dislocated his shoulder during a La Liga match. Despite playing with a brace to manage the discomfort, Bellingham decided to delay surgery until after the FIFA Club World Cup. He played in the tournament but was unable to prevent Madrid's semifinal exit against Paris Saint-Germain.

Real Madrid confirmed that Bellingham underwent surgery to address the recurrent dislocation of his left shoulder, carried out by doctors Manuel Leyes and Andrew Wallace. The club has announced that Bellingham will now enter a rehabilitation phase, with an expected return to training in approximately six weeks. This means he will miss Madrid's opening La Liga match against Osasuna on August 19 and is also expected to sit out some Champions League fixtures. Additionally, Bellingham is likely to miss England's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia in September.

Since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund for a record $114 million (approximately Rs 979 crore), Bellingham has made 100 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions. He has contributed significantly with 38 goals and 27 assists, becoming an essential player for Los Blancos. Bellingham has only failed to start four matches during his time at Madrid, a testament to his importance in the squad. His absence will be felt as Madrid prepares for a new season under manager Xabi Alonso.

Bellingham is expected to be back for the highly anticipated Clasico against Barcelona in late October but will likely miss the derby clash with Atletico Madrid on September 29. Fans will be hoping for a swift recovery, with Bellingham's return crucial to Madrid's aspirations in both La Liga and the Champions League.