JAKARTA - Manager Alvaro Arbeloa admitted that Jude Bellingham's injury was an important loss. The midfielder was replaced just 10 minutes after the match started in Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
The club confirmed late on in the evening after the game that the problem was with Bellingham's left hamstring.
"After the examination conducted today by our player Jude Bellingham by the Real Madrid Medical Service, he was diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg. Waiting for further developments," read the club statement.
Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty in the 100th minute to give Real Madrid three points in LaLiga after a difficult match.
Before Mbappe scored the winning goal, Jorge de Frutos from Rayo equalized after Vinicius Junior's early goal, before the visitors lost two players due to red cards.
The crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu booed the team before the game - and again when they struggled during the second half - after Real Madrid's midweek defeat against Benfica in the Champions League.
In the pressure-packed encounter from the fans, Bellingham fell to the ground clutching his thigh after chasing the ball down the right wing with the game still goalless.
After being comforted by his teammates, he limped off the pitch, looking very sad and wiping away tears, as he was replaced by Brahim Diaz.
"We don't know about Jude yet," Arbeloa said in a post-match news conference, when asked about Bellingham's injury.
"(Bellingham) has made a huge effort in every game since I've been here. It's a very important loss, but we have an incredible squad," Arbeloa said again.
Bellingham has already undergone tests to determine how serious the problem is. The 22-year-old's injury could be a major concern for England coach Thomas Tuchel ahead of friendly matches at Wembley against Uruguay and Japan next month.
Bellingham was one of the players - along with Vinicius - who was whistled by some fans before the match, when their names were announced over the stadium speakers.
Bellingham has had a season plagued by injuries, missing the start of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery last summer. However, Arbeloa did not want to heat up the situation
"I respect the Bernabeu audience. I will always ask for their support," Arbeloa said, when asked about the whistle.
Meanwhile, Arbeloa insists that Real Madrid was actually unlucky even though they were given an extra nine minutes at the end of the second half, with their winning penalty awarded in the 98th minute and Mbappe scoring two minutes later.
The Spanish coach wants more extra time because the visiting team is considered to be stalling. In addition, Arbeloa admitted that his team needs to be more consistent, after a difficult start to his leadership.
"It could have been more. Every time a visiting team takes a shot on goal here, it takes a minute."
"I'm not Gandalf the White. What I get is what I want from my players, namely commitment and effort," said Arbeloa, referring to the fictional wizard.
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