Jude Bellingham has spoken out after Real Madrid's Champions League plans were interrupted by a training ground incident.
The England midfielder was reportedly involved in an 'ugly' confrontation during a Real Madrid training session on Friday before being rested for the team's La Liga win over Alaves on Sunday.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti left Bellingham and Vinicius Jr out of his starting line-up against Alaves but both came on for the last half an hour as Los Blancos endeavoured to hold on to their lead with ten men after the early dismissal of Kylian Mbappe.
Ancelotti is now fully focused on the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal on Wednesday.
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It'll be an uphill battle for Real Madrid, who trail 3-0 after a dismal first-leg display at the Emirates Stadium last week.
Their preparations were disrupted on Friday when 21-year-old Bellingham took exception to a challenge by team-mate Antonio Rudiger in training, according to El Chiringuito reporter Edu Aguirre.
The squabbling pair apparently had to be separated in the incident, which took place during a small-sided game at the club's training base and was accelerated by Bellingham allegedly insulting his team-mate.
Both players eventually featured against Alaves on Sunday and the flashpoint, which doesn't seem to have been any more extreme than the kind of disagreements that happen between football team-mates all over the world every day, will soon fade from memory.
With a 3-0 deficit to overturn, the 15-time European champions have more important matters to deal with.
Bellingham hasn't yet addressed the face-to-face with Rudiger directly but posted a message to Real Madrid supporters on his Instagram stories after the victory over Alaves.
Arsenal humbled Real Madrid in last week's first leg thanks in no small part to a pair of spectacular free kicks by Bellingham's England midfield partner Declan Rice.
Real Madrid 'believe' ahead of Arsenal game
Spanish international added the all-important third goal, setting the defending champions a monolithic challenge in the second leg.
It takes a brave gambler to bet against Los Blancos in the Champions League and they will be a united force when Arsenal come to town.
"Believe! See you Wednesday Madridistas!" posted a confident Bellingham.
Topics: Real Madrid, Antonio Rudiger, Jude Bellingham
Chris Nee