Notes From Valdebebas: Bellingham’s Shoulder Improving
Real Madrid City was buzzing with good energy today as Carlo Ancelotti had almost his entire squad, including key players who had finished extended vacations following deep runs in Euro 2024 and Copa America. All the returning players, including the French and Spanish contingents, as well as Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde, looked sharp and ready to go despite limited training time and no pre-season game action.
One particularly positive development has been Jude Bellingham’s return to full training without the shoulder strap he had worn throughout the latter part of last season and during Euro 2024. Bellingham’s shoulder injury had raised concerns about the possibility of surgery before the season began. However, his ability to train and play without the strap suggests that surgery may no longer be necessary. The absence of the strap should also improve his mobility, as the protective gear had limited his range of motion and comfort on the pitch.
More good news: Despite the limited time to train, Mbappé, like his returning teammates, appeared sharp and fit, fuelling speculation about his role in the upcoming European Super Cup against Atalanta.
Ancelotti, known for his meticulous preparation, conducted a scrimmage during the session, experimenting with two line-ups that mixed starters and potential bench players. The line-ups were as follows:
Team 1:
Courtois
Carvajal
Rüdiger
Jacobo
Mendy
Güler
Tchouaméni
Modric
Ceballos
Mbappé
Vinicius
Team 2:
Lunin
Vazquez
Militao
Vallejo
Fran García
Valverde
Camavinga
Bellingham
Rodrygo
Endrick
Brahim
While Team 1 might seem like the more likely starting eleven, the inclusion of first-team regulars like Militao, Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham, and Rodrygo in Team 2 suggests that Ancelotti is keeping his options open. The final training session on Tuesday, along with the pre-match press conference, should provide more clarity on who will start in the Super Cup.
Ancelotti has previously stated that the Super Cup is a continuation of the previous season, implying that the players who helped Real Madrid secure the Champions League should feature prominently. However, the arrival of a marquee signing like Kylian Mbappé might prompt the manager to make an exception to this rule, as integrating the star forward quickly into the squad could be crucial for the team’s success this season.
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