Jude Bellingham will miss the first leg of the Real Madrid Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester City as the midfielder continues to recover from a hamstring injury, according to multiple sources briefed on the matter.
Sources say Madrid are hoping that Bellingham, 22, will be ready for the second leg on Tuesday, March 17, although they see the Madrid derby five days later as a more realistic date. Kylian Mbappe is also not expected to play in the first leg in Madrid six days earlier, sources added, and is similarly a doubt for the game in Manchester.
Bellingham has been in London to see a specialist about his hamstring injury, while Mbappe was in Paris to similarly get a second opinion on his left knee sprain. Both visits were conducted alongside members of Madrid’s medical department, with the plan for both players to be back in the Spanish capital over the weekend.
Sources said that the timeframes for both players’ returns are unclear. With Mbappe having experienced knee pain since December, sources added that there are fears of aggravating the problem if the 27-year-old returns too early. Following the City second leg, Madrid’s only other game before the international break is the derby against Atletico Madrid on Sunday, March 22.
Bellingham has not played since sustaining the injury early in the 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on February 1. The Athletic reported last month that the injury is more complex than initially suggested by the club, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, and that he was unlikely to return in early March as first expected, with an updated recovery timeline set then at six to eight weeks. This week, he has sought a second opinion on the issue in the English capital, travelling with Madrid’s head of medical services Dr Niko Mihic.
The Athletic reported earlier this week that Mbappe is not expecting to have to undergo surgery on his knee issue, according to a statement from his camp. The club has described the injury as a knee sprain, with the Frenchman’s camp saying that “additional tests are being carried out in order to assess the progress of his knee injury” in Paris.
The uncertainty over the players’ return dates means it is unclear whether they will play before the next international window, the final national team camp before the World Cup.
Thomas Tuchel is expected to announce his England squad on Friday, March 20, ahead of his side facing Uruguay and Japan in friendlies on March 27 and 31 respectively, and said last month that Bellingham was “pushing” to be involved but it was uncertain. France have friendlies against Brazil and Colombia on March 26 and 29 respectively.
Bellingham has made 28 appearances in all competitions for Madrid this season, scoring six goals and providing four assists. Mbappe has played 33 times this term, registering 38 goals and six assists.