Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham sustained a muscle injury in his right leg during training on Friday, the club confirmed.
A source told ESPN that Bellingham is expected to be out until mid-September, after the international break.
In an Instagram post, the England international expressed his frustration at missing games and his concern about his workload after a busy season with Madrid and his national team.
“There's nothing I hate more than missing games, but I try to look on the positive side and maybe my body is telling me it needs a little more rest after a tough year,” he said.
“I'm very frustrated, but I will support the boys like a fan until I can return to them at my best and strongest. Thank you for your concerned and supportive messages. All the best and Hala Madrid!”
Bellingham scored 19 league goals for Madrid last season and delivered a man-of-the-match performance in Madrid's first cup win this season, beating Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup last week.
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“Following the tests carried out today by the Real Madrid medical service on our player Jude Bellingham, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the plantar fasciitis muscle in his right leg,” the club said in a statement.
Madrid will play their first home game of the season against Real Valladolid at the Bernabéu on Sunday after starting the season with a 1-1 draw away in Mallorca last weekend.
The match will see Kylian Mbappé make his home debut after moving to Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
After bringing Mbappé to a team that has won La Liga and the Champions League, expectations are high for Madrid in the 2024/25 season, but Ancelotti's team have been criticised after dropping points against Mallorca.
“The assessment was quite clear,” said Ancelotti. “Sometimes we lacked balance and that is what we need to work on. It is not too complicated. If the problem is clear, there is also a clear solution.”
Ancelotti denied that there was a problem integrating striker Rodrygo into the team alongside Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Bellingham.
“[Rodrygo] told me he is very happy here,” said Ancelotti. “He works hard, he was one of the best in these games, so there is no problem with him.”
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