Real suffers a bad news before the big battle with Bayern Munich

As the showdown with Bayern in the Champions League approaches, the Spanish Royal team is uneasy about an unwanted development concerning Bellingham.

Real Madrid is entering a crucial phase of the season, but Jude Bellingham's fitness issue requires special consideration from the coaching staff. According to AS, although the English midfielder has shown positive recovery progress from injury, the Bernabeu side does not want to risk one of its most important midfield assets.

The latest updates from AS indicate that Bellingham has returned to the available list and has been medically cleared to play. However, this does not mean he is immediately ready for high-intensity matches. Consequently, the possibility of the English star being absent or having a limited role against Bayern Munich is increasingly discussed.

Specifically, AS reports that Bellingham is almost certain not to start in the match against Mallorca, and a similar scenario is very likely to repeat in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich. This signals that Real Madrid is prioritizing a safe approach, rather than rushing the recovery of the 23-year-old player amid an increasingly demanding schedule.

At first glance, Bellingham's current situation may seem puzzling to many. He has returned to training, is included in the tactical plan, and is no longer deemed medically unfit. Yet, Real Madrid internally still does not consider this midfielder an ideal option to start in matches requiring peak physical foundation and rhythm.

The reason emphasized by Madrid media lies in a significant difference between two concepts: "being medically cleared to play" and "being at 100% physical condition for high-intensity performance." This is also the key detail reflecting the caution of Real Madrid's coaching staff. For a player with such a comprehensive role as Bellingham, returning too early could pose risks greater than the immediate professional value.

Notably, the concluding part of AS's report gives Real Madrid fans further reasons for concern but also some reassurance about the club's handling of the situation. In the context where Bayern Munich has had cases of post-injury returns deemed unreasonable this season, Real Madrid clearly does not want to follow a similar misstep. The question now is whether Los Blancos will have enough patience to avoid risking their English star in the imminent showdown.