Jude Bellingham ‘Risk’ Flagged by International Manager Before Real Madrid Return

England manager Thomas Tuchel has opted to keep Jude Bellingham on the sidelines for Tuesday’s friendly against Japan, branding any on-field involvement a “risk” as the midfielder completes his rehabilitation from a hamstring complaint that has already sidelined him for ten club matches.

Bellingham, 22, trained with the squad throughout the March camp and was used as a neutral player in sessions, but sat out Friday’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay and will not be rushed into the final warm-up at Wembley. “He looked very, very good but we’re still holding him back, to not take a risk,” Tuchel told BBC Radio 5 Live. “The injury is a muscle, it’s a very particular one, and we absolutely don’t want a re-injury in this moment of the season.”

The decision preserves Bellingham for a decisive stretch with Real Madrid, who resume their La Liga chase on 4 April at Mallorca before a potential title-defining Clásico at Camp Nou on 10 May. In Europe, Carlo Ancelotti’s side face Bayern Munich in a two-legged Champions League quarter-final on 7 and 15 April.

While Bellingham’s competitive minutes remain on ice, his presence in England’s last pre-World Cup squad is viewed as pivotal. A Ballon d’Or nominee in each of the past three years, the midfielder is expected to anchor the No. 10 role behind Harry Kane when the tournament kicks off this summer, with Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson likely to sit deeper.

Tuchel, who once labelled aspects of Bellingham’s behaviour “repulsive” before later apologising, insists relations are now smooth and that keeping the playmaker involved off the pitch was non-negotiable. “We have all gained from him being part of it,” the German said.

England conclude the international window without their most influential midfielder on the field, but with the assurance that their main creative engine should arrive in peak condition for both Madrid’s trophy run-in and a long-awaited World Cup assault.