Bellingham Fit for Real Madrid Derby vs Atlético, Mbappé at 100% | LaLiga News

Jude Bellingham is set to return to the Real Madrid squad for Sunday’s Madrid derby against Atlético Madrid, manager Álvaro Arbeloa confirmed Saturday, marking his first appearance in six weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Arbeloa told reporters that Bellingham is “available” and “will be in the squad tomorrow,” adding, “We’ll see if he plays. I think so. I’m looking forward to seeing him on the pitch. He’s an intelligent player, and he knows what to do in every moment. I’m happy he’ll be available and ready to aid us tomorrow.”

The England midfielder sustained the injury on February 1, but has been cleared to feature despite being named in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for upcoming matches against Uruguay and Japan, a decision Arbeloa said he supports.

Also returning to full fitness is forward Kylian Mbappé, who Arbeloa stated is now “100%” after making a substitute appearance against Manchester City in the Champions League. “We saw that in Manchester, with the runs he made. He showed that he’s fine,” Arbeloa said. Mbappé is also expected to join the French national team for matches against Brazil and Colombia during the international break.

Arbeloa expressed confidence in both players’ readiness to contribute for their respective national teams, stating, “With players like Bellingham and Mbappé, you can’t expect them not to be called up by their national teams. The World Cup is in a few months. I understand the situation perfectly.”

Real Madrid suffered a 5-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid earlier in the LaLiga season. Arbeloa acknowledged the demand for tactical adjustments to integrate Bellingham and Mbappé into the lineup, stating, “We’ll create some adjustments. Of course it’s not the same playing with Brahim [Diaz] as with Mbappé, or with Jude or Thiago [Pitarch]… But they’ve been elite players for a long time, and they know what it means to perform for the team.”

Arbeloa indicated there is no set timeline for the return of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who suffered a muscular injury against Manchester City. He also praised defender Antonio Rüdiger, whose contract is set to expire this summer, stating, “I would make a statue of Rudiger and put it in my garden… I have only great things to say about him,” while deferring questions about a contract extension to the club and the player.