‘Tough on the Knees’ - Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham Reveals What Annoys Him About Club World Cup in America

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has highlighted a major infrastructural flaw in the US that has left him disappointed and fearing the worst ahead of 2026 World Cup.

Jude Bellingham has admitted he’s feeling the toll of a long, grueling season as he looks to cap it off with Club World Cup success before finally undergoing long-delayed shoulder surgery.

Speaking deep inside the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, away from the searing late afternoon heat, the Real Madrid star opened up on the physical strain of a 61-game season and his desire to "get my old body back."

“Yeah, yeah, I'm definitely feeling it,” Bellingham told Mail Sport. “With the new kits, new managers and new players coming, it probably kids you into thinking it’s a new season. But you’ve already got 50 to 60 games in your legs and in this heat, you can definitely feel it. But the way I and the team are approaching it is that it’s five more games of graft and everything we’ve got to try and bring home another title.”

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Despite his fatigue and playing with a shoulder brace, Bellingham remains crucial for Madrid’s hopes. He delivered again on Sunday, driving the team forward and scoring a key goal against Pachuca even with his side reduced to ten men.

England Star Slams Pitches in America

His shoulder surgery is pencilled in for the week following the Club World Cup final, a procedure that will sideline him for around three months. Still, the England international is already casting his gaze ahead to next summer’s World Cup.

“The pitches aren’t great at all. It holds the ball up. The ball barely bounces. It’s tough on the knees as well. Hopefully it’s something that someone will look at going into next year,” he said.

“It’s important we protect the players as well as giving the fans a great spectacle and giving them great games like today.”

The 21-year-old is also navigating change at club level. Carlo Ancelotti has made way for new manager Xabi Alonso, and Bellingham’s England team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold has now joined him in Madrid.

How is Bellingham coping with Alonso?

Alonso, known for his structured, system-driven style, sees Bellingham as a player with “the soul of a midfielder” and believes he thrives when starting “from the right position.” But Bellingham remains insistent that his best performances come when he’s granted freedom on the pitch.

“I think we’re both open about it. I think I’m at my best when I'm constantly involved in the game, whether it’s deeper or higher and when I’m getting on the ball and I’m making things happen – breaking lines, driving with the ball, getting into the box, scoring goals and making chances,” Bellingham explained.

“I feel like when I’m free to be complete, that’s when I’m at my best. I think Xabi agrees with me in that sense. He’s put me in a position that I really enjoy playing, where I get a lot of touches and I’m involved a lot and I think the team benefits as a result. So I’m really grateful for his trust in this game and hopefully going forward, it will be the same.”

The early signs suggest a promising partnership between the 43-year-old manager and his dynamic young midfielder — a bond Madrid will hope can deliver silverware before Bellingham finally takes the long-awaited rest his body needs.