Jude Bellingham shoulder not an issue for Real Madrid – Carlo Ancelotti

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that striker Jude Bellingham’s shoulder is not an issue for the club. The Italian manager revealed that the Englishman will be available for selection against Alaves as he will play with protection on his shoulder.

The 21-year-old Bellingham is yet to score for Real Madrid after playing two matches in the ongoing La Liga season. The youngster was in red-hot form in the previous edition, scoring 19 goals and further assisting six more in 28 matches of the La Liga.

Bellingham had fell awkwardly on his shoulder early in Madrid’s 4-1 win over Espanyol on Saturday.

“It’s the same shoulder as last year,” Ancelotti said in a news conference, ahead of Tuesday’s game. “The problem he had the other day hasn’t affected him. He’ll wear protection, just to be safe, but he’s available, he’ll play.”

Meanwhile, Ancelotti rested Vinícius Júnior, Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy against Espanyol and said it’s time to rotate the players.

“We’ll evaluate that tomorrow, I won’t give the team today,” he said, when asked if Kylian Mbappé could drop out of the starting eleven. “But this is a moment where we have to rotate.”

The veteran gaffer showered praise on young striker Endrick, who has scored in Champions League as well as the La Liga.

“He knows to be patient, he understands,” Ancelotti said. “Every day he trains with the best forwards in the world, he understands his role perfectly… He’s very professional, very mature. He’ll get his minutes when we need him.”

Ancelotti also revealed that defender Mendy has extended his contract with the club.

“He’s signed a new contract, he’s doing well,” Ancelotti said. “His defensive level is very high… We have a left winger [Vinícius] who’s very strong, so we don’t ask a lot of him in attack, but he could do it.”

Real Madrid will take on Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night.