The sequence could have remained innocuous: a few media criticisms, a tense exchange at the time of an exit, a reaction scrutinized to the millimeter. But in England, the Bellingham affair took on a much broader dimension. At just 22 years old, the Real Madrid midfielder is at the heart of a debate that is shaking up the country and questions the way in which certain public figures are perceived. For several weeks, the comments around his attitude, his body language and his place in the collective have become disproportionate, to the point of causing growing unease.
Ian Wright denounces biased treatment
It was actually when Ian Wright joined the party that things changed. The former Arsenal striker, a respected figure in English football, directly accuses part of the media ecosystem and public opinion: according to him, ‘England not ready for a black superstar’. Wright believes that the extent of the criticism leveled at Bellingham — especially after his alleged attitude during the Albania match — cannot be separated from the color of his skin. For the ex-international, certain figures could not stand to see a young black player fully assume his status, his confidence and his charisma.
Recent events illustrate this climate. Bellingham was left on the bench in October despite a satisfactory return from injury. Then, during the success against Albania, his expression at the time of replacement was perceived as a lack of membership in the collective. A harsh reading that Thomas Tuchel himself judged “disturbing”,
before promising to analyze the images. In a country where the media coverage of the Three Lions reaches a level rarely equaled, the influence of the extra-sporting context is impossible to ignore. Wright even speaks of a “media production” intended to create a serial.
Bellingham at the heart of a burning debate: racist treatment?
A storm that may not destabilize Bellingham
Wright’s remarks refer to a long tradition: that of increased demands for profiles perceived as too “expressive”, too “assertive” or too much “independents”. He cites Pogba, evokes KantĂ© as a counter-example, and describes a mechanism installed in English football for decades. Bellingham, one of the most brilliant talents of his generation, would become the latest victim: symbol of a player who cannot be controlled and who “
frightened by what it represents.
For now, the Real Madrid star is returning to the club in a turbulent climate. If he remains almost certain to appear on the list for the 2026 World Cup, his place in the eleven remains to be conquered. But Wright reminds us that Bellingham has a rare strength: that of escaping imposed narratives. In England, the debate has started – and goes well beyond the sporting framework. For the moment, the merengue community is moving forward, without responding, but with support behind it that is growing as the days go by.
