Two Real Madrid stars refuse to take up Arbeloa's offer of day off

Alvaro Arbeloa gave his Real Madrid players the day off on Tuesday after his side bounced back and beat Rayo Vallecano 2-1 in La Liga on Sunday. It wasn't a statement-making win by any means and ended with the visitors being down to nine men.

Vinicius Junior opened the scoring with a sensational strike but Jorge De Frutos equalized in the second half. It took Madrid until the 100th minute to find a winner despite a one-man advantage in the final 10 minutes and Kylian Mbappe netted from the penalty spot.

Arbeloa has been extremely lenient with his squad since his appointment as caretaker manager. Some feel he isn't being tough enough with a team that is faltering and were beaten 4-2 by Benfica meaning they require the playoffs to advance to the Champions League's knockout rounds.

Two Real Madrid stars didn't take day off

It's not the first time that Arbeloa has given his players a day off after a dissapointing week. But on this occasion Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos appeared to go against their manager's offer of a rest.

El Chiringuito TV reports that Bellingham and Ceballos were both at Valdebebas while their teammates enjoyed their downtime. It's claimed that both trained but that's unlikely given the events that unfolded against Rayo.

Bellingham suffered a hamstring injury that could keep him sidelined for more than three weeks. His visit to the training facilities might have been to undergo further tests although this isn't confirmed.

The 22-year-old has come under criticism as of late and was one of three Madrid players booed following Xabi Alonso's dismissal. There has been speculation over his future with the club reportedly open to offers if his performances don't improve.

Ceballos came on in the second half of the win over Rayo and he caught the eye when he added much-needed creativity to Arbeloa's midfield. The Spaniard had fallen down the pecking order since the change in manager and there was talk of a possible January exit.

The 29-year-old might be trying to work his way into Arbeloa's starting lineup and possibly be the Bellingham replacement during the Englishman's absence. But the fact that the duo attended Valdebebas speaks volumes of their mentalities during a difficult period.

Jude Bellingham breaks his silence after injury

Bellingham was in tears when he was forced off against Raya after just 10 minutes on the pitch. He has now sent a message to fans following the injury which means he'll likely miss the Champions League playoff against Benfica.

The English star wrote on his app while sharing a picture of him wearing an oxygen mask (via Madrid Zone): "Life goes on."

Bellingham started the season on the sidelines recovering from shoulder surgery before returning in September. He's made 28 appearances across competitions this season, posting six goals and four assists.