Midfielder’s absence for a month further adds to the club’s injury concerns
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham could be out for a month after sustaining a hamstring injury against Rayo Vallecano.
The midfielder fell to the floor just 10 minutes into the game, holding the back of his thigh. Although he managed to walk off the pitch by himself he was visibly in pain. He had to be replaced by Brahim Diaz.
Madrid have confirmed the hamstring injury but did not provide a timeline, only saying that the player will be monitored to discover the extent of the problem.
“Following tests carried out today on our player Jude Bellingham by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg,” Madrid said in a statement. “His recovery will be monitored.”
Bellingham’s absence for a month further adds to Madrid’s injury concerns. They have missed Mbappe in several games this season and remain without Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ferland Mendy.
In Bellingham’s absence on Sunday, they needed a 100th minute penalty taken by Kylian Mbappe to defeat Rayo Vallecano, who were down to 10 men at the time.
Alvaro Arbeloa would desperately want the player back before Madrid face Benfica in the double-header playoff tie on 17 and 25 February. Benfica defeated the Spanish side in Lisbon last week to force them into the playoffs, and getting knocked out again by Jose Mourinho’s side might just sound the death knell for Arbeloa at the top job.
Bellingham has been among the Madrid players to face the most criticism this season, he and Vinicius Junior having been subjected to boos and whistling at the Bernabeu in the past month.
After scoring against Monaco in the Champions League this month, Bellingham mimicked drinking during his celebration, a humorous response to criticism about his lifestyle off the pitch.
