If one thing has defined Real Madrid over the last number of years it's injuries. Dating all the way back to the 2020/21 season, Real Madrid have had a number of key players suffer long-term injuries that have defined each season differently.
In those seasons the a majority of the injuries had been in the defense. Players like Eder Militao, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, and Thibaut Courtois all suffered ACL injuries that kept them sidelined for months.
One player however, has been dealing with a significant injury for the better part of two years now and has been playing through the pain. We are obviously talking about Jude Bellingham.
The Englishman suffered a serious shoulder injury about halfway through the 23/24 season and has been playing with his shoulder in a brace ever since.
However, the time has finally come for Bellingham to get his shoulder fixed. He had surgery last week and is expected to miss between two to three months recovering.
Real Madrid have midfielders for days
This is a massive blow for new manager Xabi Alonso as Bellingham was expected to have a major role in his system. His absence will no doubt be felt throughout the team and it leaves on main question, how will Los Blancos cope with Bellingham's absence?
Thankfully for Real Madrid, there is no short supply of top quality midfielders in the squad, who will be able to fill Bellingham's role in the short term. There are two in particular who will be the first options to fill the Englishman's role, Arda Guler and the newly arriving Franco Mastantuono.
We got a glimpse during the Club World Cup that Xabi Alonso is a big fan of Arda Guler. The youngster showed his class during the tournament playing 340 minutes across five games, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
Guler is finally getting the minutes he wasn't getting under Carlo Ancelotti, and now with his preferred role being open for the time being, he would slot right in perfectly during Bellingham's absence.
The other option could be Franco Mastantuono. The teenager is expected to arrive from River Plate next month and his arrival is highly anticipated. Much like Guler he showed his class during the Club World Cup, and at only 17-years-old (18 when he arrives) he could go straight into the starting lineup.
Filling Bellingham's role for the months he's recovering will be no easy task, given Bellingham is a unique player on both sides of the ball.
But Real Madrid have players who have the skills to be trusted to be given a shot at filling the midfield role. Xabi Alonso is a manager who gives opportunities to young players, so it would not be surprising to see either Guler or Mastantuono in the starting lineup when matchday one roles around next month.