Real Madrid talisman to undergo surgery after Club World Cup, will miss start of next season | OneFootball

According to a report from The Athletic, it has come to light that Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham is set to have surgery on his left shoulder after the 2025 Club World Cup.

The midfielder, who has been dealing with the problem since November 2023, will finally undergo the operation that has been on hold for months. The plan is for him to have the surgery once the tournament in the United States is over.

Bellingham first injured his shoulder in a match against Rayo Vallecano. Although he finished the game, he ended up missing four matches afterwards for both club and country.

Since then, he has been playing with shoulder support to manage the issue. Both the player and the club have long been aware that surgery is the only real fix, but they decided to delay it until a suitable time came up in the schedule.

That time appears to be after the upcoming Club World Cup, which Bellingham is keen to play in before going under the knife.

Recovery could see Bellingham miss the start of next season

Jude Bellingham will miss the start of next season. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Once the surgery is done, Bellingham is expected to be out of action for around 12 weeks (three months). That means he will likely miss the beginning of the 2025–26 La Liga campaign.

With Xabi Alonso set to take over as Real Madrid’s new head coach, this could be a big blow to the club’s early plans for next season.

Still only 21 years old, Bellingham has become a key figure at Real Madrid since his arrival. His decision to delay surgery shows how committed he is to helping the team, especially in major competitions like the Club World Cup.

While the recovery will take time, both Bellingham and the club are confident he will return stronger and ready to contribute again once fit.

This plan ensures he avoids short-term disruption during the tournament but prepares him for the long haul with the club.