England midfielder Jude Bellingham has returned to Real Madrid’s squad for Tuesday’s Champions League opener against Marseille after recovering from shoulder surgery.
The 22-year-old, sidelined since July following an operation on a long-standing injury sustained in 2023, resumed training last week and is now included in coach Xabi Alonso’s 23-man list for the Bernabeu clash.
Signed from Borussia Dortmund for £115m two years ago, Bellingham enjoyed a stellar debut season, winning La Liga and the Champions League with 23 goals in 43 games.
Last season, he added 15 goals in 58 appearances as Madrid lost the league title to Barcelona and exited Europe in the quarter-finals to Arsenal.
Fellow Englishman Trent Alexander-Arnold is also in the squad after featuring briefly in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Real Sociedad, though Dani Carvajal remains Alonso’s first-choice right-back.
The coach praised Carvajal’s leadership, calling him a vital influence in the dressing room.
