Barely back in the selection, he is already talking about him: Jude Bellingham found himself at the center of a flood of criticism during the weekend, targeted by some of the English supporters who criticize him for an attitude considered inappropriate. The Real Madrid midfielder, although reinstated in Thomas Tuchel’s eleven for this qualifying match, was taken to task at the end of the first period, while his behavior had already sparked harsh comments during previous outings. Social networks quickly caught fire, fueling the idea that Bellingham was cultivating a poorly perceived form of relaxation.
A simple exchange of jerseys that sets fire to the powder
What sparked the storm was a precise gesture: the England international exchanged jerseys with Kristjan Asllani… at half-time of the match in Albania. A rare gesture and generally reserved for the end of matches, which offended several fans. Some called him “Mr big time”, others denounced a lack of concentration, even a lack of respect for the England jersey. The messages quickly went viral, denouncing a player “who believes himself to be above others” Or “more concerned about his image than the match”. For many, the problem was not so much the exchange itself as its visibility, in the middle of an official match.
The reactions were quick to reach beyond the supporters. Roy Keane, although he did not comment on the scene live, had already castigated this type of behavior in the past, judging the very principle of an exchange of jerseys at the break as “shocking”. Enough to rekindle the recurring question around the attitude and maturity of Bellingham, already singled out in October when he missed an international window during his convalescence.
Bellingham, a contested character
In a climate of growing criticism, however, other voices called for calm. Danny Murphy, former England international, unambiguously defended the Madrid environment. For him, questioning Bellingham’s character makes no sense: “If England had 11 players like him, they would win every tournament,” he recalled, emphasizing that his leadership, his impact and his personality were an integral part of the player he became.
This controversy, ultimately born from a harmless gesture, above all symbolizes the extreme demands surrounding Bellingham, now considered an essential setting for the Three Lions. One thing is certain: Real Madrid and England will continue to count on him to swing matches, controversy or not.
