Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham suffered a muscle injury in his right leg during training on Friday, the club confirmed.
A source told ESPN that Bellingham is expected to be out until mid-September, after the international break.
Madrid play their first home match of the season against The real Valladolid at the Bernabéu on Sunday, after starting the campaign with a 1-1 draw far away Mallorca last weekend
The game will see Kylian Mbappe home debut after joining Madrid from Paris Saint Germain this summer
“Following tests carried out by the Real Madrid medical team on player Jude Bellingham today, he has been diagnosed with a plantar fasciitis in his right leg,” the club said in a statement.
“[Bellingham] “It’s been hit,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said at a news conference on Friday. “We’re assessing it.”
Bellingham, a midfielder, scored 19 goals for Madrid last season and produced a man-of-the-match performance in their first title win of this campaign, beating Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup last week.
Expectations were high for Madrid in 2024-25 after adding Mbappé to a squad that had already won LaLiga and the Champions League, but Ancelotti’s side were criticised after dropping points against Mallorca.
“It’s quite clear in terms of assessment,” Ancelotti said. “Sometimes we lack balance and we have to solve that. It’s not too complicated. When the problem is clear, there will be a clear solution.”
Ancelotti denies there is a problem with striker arrangements Rodrygo into the team, along with Mbappé, Vinicius Junior and Bellingham.
“[Rodrygo] told me he is very happy here,” Ancelotti said. “He is working hard, he is one of the best players in these games, so there is no problem for him.”
