Credit: Lee Smith-Reuters via Imagn Images

Real Madrid Hit by Double Blow Before Season Begins: Jude Bellingham and Endrick Out

Los Blancos Face Early Season Test As Two Key Players Ruled Out Through Injury.

Credit: Lee Smith-Reuters via Imagn Images

Real Madrid are bracing for a challenging start to the new season as they face a double injury setback. Jude Bellingham and Endrick both have been ruled out for the opening weeks of the coming season. Manager Xabi Alonso will be forced to reshuffle his plans.

He will have to do it fast before Los Blancos’ La Liga opener against Osasuna on August 19. The club confirmed this week that Jude Bellingham underwent successful surgery to address a recurring dislocation in his left shoulder.

Real Madrid's Endrick is expected to be out of action until mid-September, sources have told ESPN, after suffering another injury setback.

Jude Bellingham is also recovering from shoulder surgery that is expected to keep him sidelined for 3 months. pic.twitter.com/TKMtE77tRu
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 22, 2025

The England international had been managing the issue throughout last season. However, he finally opted for an operation during the offseason to avoid further complications. In an official statement, Madrid said: “Bellingham will now undergo a period of rehabilitation, prior to returning to training and starting his recovery.”

Unfortunately, no timeline was given of his recovery. Spanish media reports estimate that the midfielder could miss two to three months of action. That would sideline him for at least the opening stages of La Liga and potentially the start of Madrid’s Champions League campaign.

Also Read: Real Madrid La Liga 2025-26 Fixtures: Full Schedule, Key Matches, and More

Endrick Faces Lengthy Layoff After Relapse

The bad news doesn’t stop there for Madrid. Brazilian forward Endrick has suffered a fresh hamstring setback. This happened during his recovery from an injury that he sustained in May against Sevilla. The 19-year-old had returned to light training but relapsed.

As a result, he was forced to miss the entirety of the FIFA Club World Cup. According to Marca, Endrick is now expected to be out for eight to 10 weeks. His absence, combined with Kylian Mbappe’s recent bout of gastroenteritis, left Alonso without a senior striker during the Club World Cup.

Also Read: Barcelona La Liga 2025-26 Fixtures: Full Schedule, Key Matches, and More

This opened the door for Castilla forward Gonzalo Garcia. He seized his opportunity by scoring four goals and providing an assist in six games. Garcia’s emergence has sparked debate over Madrid’s attacking options, with Alonso reportedly keen to keep the 21-year-old in the first-team squad.

Endrick, meanwhile, faces added pressure to reclaim his place once fit. Especially after having an inconsistent debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu. As Madrid prepare for pre-season, Alonso’s priority will now be finding solutions in attack and midfield to navigate to a good start to the season.

Endrick

Jude Bellingham

Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.