Jude Bellingham Reflects on Delayed Surgery Decision

Jude Bellingham has faced various injury setbacks since his high-profile transfer to Real Madrid. His most recent return in the Madrid derby marked the end of a seven-week absence due to a hamstring tear. While he admitted to struggling mentally during this period, he indicated it wasn't the toughest challenge he's faced at the Bernabéu.

Back in November, only a few months into his Real Madrid career, Bellingham dislocated his shoulder during a match against Rayo Vallecano. Though he initially missed just a couple of weeks of play, this incident eventually led to him undergoing surgery almost two years later.

Speaking on his exclusive JB5 app, as reported by Cadena SER, Bellingham opened up about that initial injury against Rayo, describing the pain as the most intense he had ever felt.

He recounted, “It all began during the Rayo match. It was genuinely the most excruciating sensation I had ever experienced. It felt like an eternity before they managed to reset it… even though it was only 90 seconds from the moment they came onto the pitch.”

Bellingham Regrets Not Having Surgery Sooner

This was not Bellingham’s first shoulder injury; he had previously opted against surgery, a choice he later admitted to regretting in subsequent years.

“In the past, I managed to pop it back in myself when it dislocated. During the start of my final season at Dortmund, after an awkward fall, I was advised that shoulder surgery was necessary. I sensed something was wrong, but with the World Cup scheduled for December, and it being August-September, I opted against surgery at that time."

He continued, “When I arrived in Madrid, I wasn't experiencing any pain. Despite advice from others that surgery was still inevitable, it was my inaugural year at Real Madrid, and I was reluctant to abandon the team and be sidelined for three months. The shoulder issue significantly impacted the rest of my physical well-being. While I wasn't in constant severe pain, the knowledge that it could dislocate again with another fall prevented me from performing at my optimal level.”

Bellingham also disclosed that surgery was an option in the summer of 2024. However, having just experienced a defeat in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, he didn't want that disappointing result to be his last memory before an extended period off the pitch.

“I didn’t want that feeling to linger as my last experience for three months, even though it would have been the ideal time for the operation. I chose to push through for another year, a decision I now regret. That past year taught me not to take success for granted. Now, I feel physically improved and confident in returning to my peak performance.”