Real Madrid's midfielder Jude Bellingham insists on playing the next league game against Cadiz FC on November 26 despite having a shoulder injury, reported Edu Aguirree on El Chiringuito TV.
Bellingham dislocated his shoulder during a goalless draw at the Bernabeu against Rayo Vallecano on November 6 and has not played a single match since then, missing two with Real Madrid and Euro 2024 qualifiers with England.
Real Madrid didn't lose or draw any game in the 20-year-old's absence but the international break made things worse for Carlo Ancelotti as he lost two of his most trusted troops, Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Junior.
Bellingham is Madrid's top-scorer with 13 goals to his name since making his debut and the club knows that they are forced to rush his return as with Vinicius' injury, they are just left with two natural attackers in the squad — Joselu and Rodrygo.
Bellingham was scheduled to return anytime in December but looking at the current scenario of Ancelotti's men as they are bombarded with injuries, the 20-year-old might return a lot earlier than he was expected.
Vinicius has been ruled out till February 2024 while Camavinga's goal is to mark his return in January.
Should Bellingham return to the starting XI on the weekend, Ancelotti would most likely go with a 4-4-2 diamond formation using Rodrygo and Joselu as the attackers and the 20-year-old taking his usual role of attacking midfielder.
Or the Italian can play a 4-2-1-3 formation with Brahim as a right-winger, Rodrygo at left, and Joselu in centre while Bellingham would continue to operate in his own zone.
It must be noted that are already without their first-choice goalkeeper and centre-back Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao as both players tore their Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).
Real Madrid's injury list and their likely return time:
Dani Ceballos (training with the team, return date not established)
Kepa Arrizabalaga (two weeks)
Aurilien Tchouameni (December)
Arda Guler (December)
Eduardo Camanvinga (January)
Vinicius Junior (February)
Thibaut Courtois (April)
Eder Militao (April)
