Real Madrid News
Real Madrid talisman could undergo surgery to fix shoulder issue, final decision not made
Earlier this month, Jude Bellingham suffered a shoulder dislocation while in action for Real Madrid against Rayo Vallecano.
The problem was not seen as a major one, but it did lead to the 20-year-old midfielder missing games against SC Braga and Valencia, while he also sat out of England’s fixtures in the international break.
Bellingham made a return to action last weekend when Los Blancos faced Cadiz in La Liga and even contributed with a goal.
It was backed up by another stellar performance last night against Napoli, capped off with a goal and an assist.
Bellingham considering surgery
While Bellingham may have returned to action and made key contributions, the Real Madrid talisman’s shoulder problem is still not completely dealt with.
As such, the 20-year-old Englishman and the club are considering the possibility of him undergoing surgery to fix the issue, reports Mario Cortegana of The Athletic.
Even though a final decision is yet to be made, the report states that there is a good chance that Bellingham will indeed go under the knife to get rid of his shoulder problem.
As per the report, the midfielder played with shoulder protection against Cadiz over the weekend and there were moments when some discomfort was seen.
As such, the possibility of surgery is very much on the table, but no definitive timeline is set for the same.
A medical staff source told The Athletic that conservative treatment is the first course of action, but “once a shoulder is out, the player will feel pain and this pain usually does not repair itself.”
The source also added that Bellingham would likely have surgery sooner or later, but insisted that he could “wait a day, a week, a season or longer”. They continued: “You can live with it as long as you can deal with it. Then you have to operate.”
Brahim Diaz to undergo surgery
Intriguingly, Bellingham’s Real Madrid teammate, Brahim Diaz, also suffered a shoulder dislocation earlier in the season, in September.
The 24-year-old has carried on playing despite the issue, but as per the report, the Spaniard is set to undergo surgery once the season is over, giving him time to recover without missing games.
What remains to be seen is if Bellingham also follows the same path, although it must be taken into consideration that he will have to play for England at the UEFA Euro 2024.
One of the main objectives for Real Madrid this summer was to bring in a new central midfielder capable of controlling the tempo and dictating the play from the middle.
A move for Rodri was in the works before the Spain captain decided to sign for FC Barcelona. The Merengues assessed several other options, but ended up not signing any player, with Jose Mourinho deciding to use Bernardo Silva in the double pivot.
One of the midfielders that Real Madrid were looking at as an option was Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace.
The England international has been on the club’s radar for a while now, but the Premier League club never opened the door for a summer departure.
Wharton could be on the market in 2027
However, now, according to The Guardian (h/t Bernabeu Digital), That stance could change next year, as that Palace would be prepared to consider selling Wharton during the next summer transfer window.
As mentioned already, Real Madrid have closely followed Wharton’s situation throughout the summer, although the club ultimately decided against making any further additions to their midfield.
Manchester City and Chelsea also showed serious interest in signing the England international during the summer. However, Crystal Palace were unwilling to sell, effectively ruling out a move for the midfielder.
But it appears that they could open the doors for Wharton to leave in the summer of 2027, potentially paving the way for Real Madrid to make a move.
Real Madrid continue to monitor Wharton
Real Madrid are expected to keep a close eye on Wharton’s progress ahead of the 2027 market. Should they decide they need another high-quality midfielder, the 22-year-old could once again emerge as a candidate.
Manchester City may be less likely to return for Wharton after strengthening their midfield significantly this summer.
Chelsea, however, could remain a potential competitor after failing to add a player in the position during the latest window.
For now, Wharton will remain at Crystal Palace, but the club’s willingness to consider a sale next summer means the midfielder could become a realistic option for Real Madrid in 2027.
