Jude Bellingham has revealed that he felt ‘really sad for a long time’ during his recovery period, following his return to action in Real Madrid’s 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has struggled with injuries this season, limiting his impact for Los Blancos.
Bellingham first had shoulder surgery last summer which kept him out of action until September, before suffering another thigh injury which has sidelined him since February 1.
Sunday’s Madrid derby was his 19th league game of the campaign, having already missed 10 La Liga matches with injuries.
“[My recovery] was very long. Seven weeks. Long, and tough. I was really sad for a long time, but now I’m happy because I’m back training with my teammates”, the 22-year-old revealed.
Despite his recent return, Bellingham was included in Thomas Tuchel’s 35-man England squad for this month friendly games against Uruguay and Japan, hoping to keep him up to speed.
The Real Madrid forward also hailed the influence of teammates Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde on the team’s recent improvements.
“The team is playing incredibly right now, defending well and attacking well, especially in the last two or three games,” Bellingham said.
“The fans on these nights are always amazing. This atmosphere helps us a lot, and that’s why the team makes such an effort. Especially in derbies, or against City, all the players really feel the fans’ support.
In the bad moments those two always find a way to raise their level to help the team,” Bellingham added.
“The times we had a lot of injuries, they’ve always helped the team. Fede is a great example of that attitude, and Vini is an example of how to bounce back from a tough moment. What they’re doing at the moment is incredible.”
Bellingham’s priority will be to remain fit and help Real Madrid in their La Liga challenge this season, while they also remain in contention to win the UEFA Champions League.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
