Real Madrid Frustrated by England's Bellingham Usage

Real Madrid is reportedly displeased with England’s handling of midfielder Jude Bellingham during the recent international break. The club believes the decision to keep Bellingham largely on the bench was “unnecessary” and has potentially set back his return to full fitness.

Bellingham's Limited International Action

The 22-year-old, recently returning from a seven-week hamstring injury, was included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the March friendlies. However, Bellingham played only 16 minutes across England’s matches against Uruguay and Japan. This limited playing time has frustrated officials at Real Madrid.

Club Concerns Over Fitness

Real Madrid staff believe Bellingham “needed” to compete in matches to regain his form and fitness. They feel Southgate’s decision to keep him on the bench has “done little” to aid his recovery, and now consider the international trip to be detrimental to his progress. Bellingham has only logged 16 minutes of play in the last nine weeks.

Impact on Real Madrid's Schedule

With Bellingham not featuring during the international break, he now has limited time to prepare for Real Madrid’s upcoming fixtures. The team faces Mallorca this weekend before a crucial Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Bayern Munich.

Potential for Immediate Return

Prior to the international break, Bellingham managed a 16-minute cameo against Atlético Madrid, his only appearance since suffering the injury in February. While a gradual return to the starting lineup was initially anticipated, Real Madrid may be forced to rush his reintegration due to the importance of the Bayern Munich match.

Positive International Break Notes for Real Madrid

Despite the concerns surrounding Bellingham, Real Madrid experienced a largely positive international break. No players suffered injuries while representing their countries, which is a rare occurrence for the club.

Return of Key Players

Éder Militão is nearing the end of his recovery from a hamstring injury and is expected to be included in the squad for the trip to Mallorca after a four-month absence. Kylian Mbappé also showed no signs of a knee injury during the international period, scoring for France.

Strong Performances from Squad Members

Other Real Madrid players enjoyed successful international outings. Vinicius Júnior provided an assist for Brazil, and Federico Valverde scored a late penalty for Uruguay. Arda Güler also contributed to Turkey’s efforts.