Bellingham Sparks Real Madrid Comeback Ahead of the Clasico

Return to Form and the Clasico Countdown

The English youngster Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid’s rising star, is chasing his best form again after a shoulder injury kept him out for months. He moved to Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023 in a deal worth around 103 million euros, with incentives that could push the total to about 133 million, beating a fierce chase from Manchester City and Liverpool.

He didn’t need long to establish himself. In his first four La Liga games, he scored five goals and added four more in five Champions League matches, instantly becoming Madrid’s heartbeat after Karim Benzema’s departure.

Carlo Ancelotti was among the first to recognize the metal in the youngster. The Italian pushed him into a free role between the midfield and attack, granting him space to roam and creative freedom, leveraging his ability to arrive from the second line and strike at decisive moments.

As the weeks passed, the name “Jude” echoed around the Bernabéu whenever the team needed a savior. He became a constant presence with crucial goals, clever assists, and relentless effort on the field.

His first Madrid season was extraordinary on many fronts. The club collected five titles out of six possible, including La Liga and the Champions League, while Bellingham finished the campaign with 23 goals and 13 assists in 42 appearances.

Painful Chapter and the Comeback Path

Behind those achievements lay a painful chapter. On November 5, 2023, during a league game with Rayo Vallecano, Bellingham suffered a left shoulder injury after a collision with an opponent. He finished the match, but the issue persisted for nearly two seasons, forcing him to play with a bulky brace to protect the shoulder.

Despite the pain, he never wavered. He continued to deliver standout performances and remained one of the team’s most important assets across all competitions.

In the summer of 2024, he joined England for Euro 2024 and helped push his side to the final, where they fell to Spain. He scored twice in the tournament, including a spectacular overhead goal, underscoring his resilience and ability to perform under pressure.

Yet as the calendar drew on, the shoulder pains intensified. In the 2024-2025 season, it became clear he was not as comfortable physically, even though he still finished with strong numbers: 15 goals and 15 assists in 58 games.

After Real Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign in July 2025, the team’s run ended in the semifinals against Paris Saint-Germain. Bellingham ultimately underwent the long-postponed surgical procedure in London on July 17, with doctors predicting a three-month absence. True to his fighting spirit, he trained hard during rehab and returned in just over two months, a comeback that impressed everyone at the club.

Back on the pitch, he logged a few minutes in three consecutive games before new coach Xabi Alonso gave him a starting slot in the Madrid derby against Atlético. The match didn’t go as planned, with a subpar performance and result, but the plan was to ease him back gradually to his best level.

From there, Alonso managed his return with care, resting him for some matches and reintegrating him gradually. In a Villarreal clash, Bellingham began to regain his old spark, moving more vigorously, delivering dangerous passes, and closing in on goals.

Back in the Valdebebas corridors, smiles returned among the coaches and medical staff as the Englishman finally played without pain. In recent trainings, and in a friendly against Castilla, he shone again, scoring twice and signaling that his real comeback is only a matter of time.

Madrid remains convinced that the 2023-24 version of Bellingham will return soon—the version that endeared fans from his very first touch. After two years of hardship, the English star seems poised to begin a new chapter—one of strength, resolve, and reclaiming the glory he wrote on day one in the white shirt.

Of course, his return will give Real Madrid a significant boost ahead of the Clasico against Barcelona on the 26th of this month.

Punchline time, Sniper-style: If his comeback had a scope, Madrid would never miss a target.

Punchline time, Sniper-style: He’s back so fast that even the shoulder brace filed for overtime—talk about a well-aimed return.