Xabi Alonso has shed light on Jude Bellingham's availability for the Madrid derby.
Xabi Alonso sheds light on Jude Bellingham's availability for Madrid derby originally appeared on The Sporting News
The first Madrid derby of the season is slated for September 27 at Metropolitano Stadium.
Real Madrid have maintained a six-match winning streak in La Liga so far, ranking at the top of the table with 18 points.
Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, are currently ninth in the top flight with nine points after two wins, three draws, and one loss.
Now, ahead of this crucial match, head coach Xabi Alonso has delivered some good news for Real Madrid and their fans.
The Spanish manager confirmed that Jude Bellingham is available to be included in the starting squad against Atletico. The Englishman had been dealing with a left shoulder dislocation for the major part of the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, and then underwent surgery in July, making his expected return date to be around late October.
However, Bellingham made a swift recovery and has already featured in Los Blancos' last two league matches after being subbed on in the latter parts of the respective second halves.
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Now, it appears that Bellingham is ready to make his first start of the 2025/26 season, with Alonso highlighting the 22-year-old midfielder's importance in his squad.
What did Xabi Alonso say about Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham?
During his pre-match press conference, Alonso addressed questions about Bellingham's progress after surgery and said,
"You already asked me that. Both Bellingham and [Eduardo] Camavinga can start," as per GOAL.
"He's an attacking midfielder. He can participate in both the build-up and the finish. He has the ability to cover a lot of ground. We have to get the most out of him so that he can be decisive. I need his flexibility and versatility. Some players are more static, and Jude is not one of them."
Bellingham's return to his full fitness, which allows him to start and play more minutes on the pitch, would be a major boost for Los Blancos, with their upcoming Champions League and domestic fixtures.
Real Madrid have secured 45 victories in 119 matches against Atletico at the Metropolitano Stadium, while Los Rojiblancos have managed 43 wins at home, and the remaining 31 games have ended in a draw.
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