Jude Bellingham expressed that he felt “very sad for a long time” while recovering from a hamstring injury, after making his comeback for Real Madrid in their thrilling 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid on Sunday.
The young midfielder entered as a substitute in the second half of the intense derby at the Bernabéu, marking his first match since February 1. He has since been called up by Thomas Tuchel for the England squad during the international break.
Bellingham’s injuries have limited him to just 15 starts in LaLiga this season, as he initially recovered from shoulder surgery in the summer that sidelined him until mid-September, followed by a thigh injury he sustained just ten minutes into a match against Rayo Vallecano last month.
“[My recovery] took quite some time,” Bellingham shared in Spanish during an interview with Real Madrid TV. “Seven weeks. It was long and challenging. I was genuinely sad for a while, but now I’m glad to be back training with my teammates.”
The England international enjoyed a remarkable debut season at Madrid, scoring 19 league goals in 2023-24, but has struggled to reach those heights in the current campaigns, having netted four times in LaLiga so far in 2025-26.
This season has proven tough for Madrid, with coach Xabi Alonso dismissed in January and succeeded by Álvaro Arbeloa. However, the team has shown signs of improvement recently, eliminating Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16 and achieving victory over Atlético in the derby.
“The team is performing incredibly well right now, both defensively and offensively, especially in our last two or three games,” Bellingham noted. “The atmosphere created by the fans during these matches is amazing and motivates us to put in our best effort, particularly in derbies or against City, where we really feel their support.”
Bellingham also commended his teammates, Vinícius Júnior and Fede Valverde, both of whom scored against Atlético and made significant contributions in the matches against City.
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“In tough times, those two always step up to help the team,” Bellingham praised. “During our struggles with injuries, they’ve consistently supported us. Fede exemplifies that attitude, while Vini showcases resilience in difficult moments. Their performance lately has been exceptional.”