Real Madrid criticize Tuchel’s handling of Jude Bellingham on England duty
Madrid's frustration over “pointless” trip
Real Madrid officials described Jude Bellingham’s March international break with England as “pointless”, saying it raised “more questions than answers”. The club expected the midfielder, who had only a few minutes in the recent derby win over Atletico Madrid after returning from injury, to get valuable minutes or stay in Spain under their medical staff.
Tuchel explains cautious approach
Thomas Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 Live that the decision to keep Bellingham on the bench for the 1‑1 draw with Uruguay and the 1‑0 loss to Japan was a calculated risk. He stressed the player’s muscle injury and the need to avoid a re‑injury ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
“I think it's too much of a risk… we are still holding him back, to not take a risk. The injury is a muscle, it's a very particular one, and we absolutely don't want the re‑injury at this moment of the season.”
Champions League clash looms large
The club worries that Bellingham’s lack of match action will do little to prepare him for the upcoming Champions League quarter‑final first leg against Bayern Munich. Real believe that if he was fit enough to train with the national team, he should have been used to regain his stride before returning to domestic duties.
Bellingham’s role in the England setup
Despite the criticism, Tuchel maintains that the England trip was beneficial for the player’s training involvement, even though he did not feature in the matches. The friction between the FA and Real Madrid suggests future call‑ups will be closely examined.
- England vs Uruguay: 1‑1 draw
- England vs Japan: 1‑0 defeat
- Real Madrid’s upcoming CL opponent: Bayern Munich
- Bellingham’s recent club appearance: few minutes in derby win over Atletico Madrid
