Blow for Real Madrid as key superstar might not return until April – report | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s plans for the coming weeks may need serious adjustment, as fresh reports suggest Jude Bellingham’s recovery is not going as smoothly as the club had hoped. 

The English midfielder, one of the most important players in the squad this season, could now be facing a longer spell on the sidelines.

Journalist Alberto Pereiro has reported through Radioestadio Noche that Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham’s recovery is going slower than expected, as he is still in quite a lot of pain. 

In fact, the journalist mentions that ‘it looks like he won’t be back until April.’

What happened to Bellingham?

The injury dates back to the match against Rayo Vallecano just over a week ago. 

Bellingham had only been on the pitch for around ten minutes when the incident occurred. 

After bursting forward towards the goal line, he suddenly felt discomfort in the back of his thigh and stopped immediately.

His reaction made it clear that something was wrong. He grabbed his hamstring, dropped to the turf, and looked visibly concerned. 

Jude Bellingham is likely to return in April. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Within moments, the decision was made to substitute him. He walked off on his own, but the frustration was evident as he covered his face with his shirt while heading to the bench.

Medical tests later confirmed that the midfielder had suffered a hamstring injury in his left leg. Early estimates suggested he would be out for roughly two months, which already meant missing a key run of fixtures. 

Those included league games against Real Sociedad, Osasuna, Getafe, Celta Vigo, Elche, and the high-profile derby against Atletico Madrid.

An extended timeline

Now, the situation appears more complicated, as Pereiro’s update indicates that the recovery is slower than expected, mainly because the player is still experiencing significant discomfort. 

As a result, the initial timeline may have to be extended.

If the April return date is confirmed, Bellingham would miss an even larger portion of the season. 

Real Madrid would be without their dynamic midfielder during a critical stretch of matches, increasing the pressure on the rest of the squad to maintain not just results but also their fitness.

At this stage, the most realistic scenario points to Bellingham returning in the second week of April, possibly for the away trip to Mallorca at the Iberostar Stadium.