Jude Bellingham could cost Real Madrid an astronomical sum as a nightmare scenario has been revealed.
Jude Bellingham has emerged as a key figure for Real Madrid since his £88.5 million move from Borussia Dortmund.
He enjoyed a spectacular debut season, scoring 23 goals across all competitions and helping Los Blancos win the Champions League.
However, by Real’s high standards, last season was still seen as disappointing, and the 21-year-old is determined to drive his team to glory at the Club World Cup.
That ambition comes despite Bellingham battling a persistent shoulder issue since 2023. The England star has regularly worn strapping to manage the pain for both club and country.
Real Madrid have now decided that Bellingham will undergo surgery to resolve the problem, with the club planning to send him for an operation once their Club World Cup campaign is complete.
Jude Bellingham could cost Real Madrid an astronomical sum as nightmare injury scenario revealed
Jude Bellingham, who has been key to Real Madrid since his £88.5 million move from Borussia Dortmund, faces a potentially devastating injury layoff.
Bellingham has struggled with a persistent shoulder issue since 2023 and is set to undergo surgery after the Club World Cup, which could sideline him until 2026 if recovery takes as long as feared.
If Real Madrid reach the Club World Cup final on July 13, Bellingham could be out for up to 24 weeks — meaning the club could pay around £8 million in wages while he’s unavailable. Even in the more optimistic three-to-four-month recovery scenario, Madrid would still shell out between £4 million and £6 million without him on the pitch.
With Bellingham earning a reported £330,000 per week, this nightmare outcome would be a huge financial hit — and leave Real Madrid and England without one of their most influential players for a significant stretch of the season.
Jude Bellingham Opens Up on Shoulder Injury Frustrations Ahead of Club World Cup Clash
Jude Bellingham has been carrying a shoulder injury ever since he suffered initial damage during a tangle with Rayo Vallecano’s Isi Palazón on November 5, 2023. Despite playing through the pain for months, the Real Madrid star is now losing patience.
Speaking after Madrid’s 3-1 win over Pachuca last weekend, Bellingham admitted the toll the injury is taking on him:
*“I’ve gotten to the point where the pain isn’t so bad. I was tired of playing with the sling. I’m losing a lot of weight from sweating so much, and I’ll have surgery after the tournament.
I’ve been waiting a while, and my patience is running out, but the physios and doctors have been incredible, and I just want to feel free.”*
Bellingham has started both of Real Madrid’s matches at the Club World Cup and looks set to retain his place in the starting XI when they take on RB Salzburg this Friday — even as he continues to manage his injury.
