Jude Bellingham has divided opinion among two of talkSPORT’s most esteemed pundits following his latest press conference.
The Real Madrid star spoke honestly about the pressure he faced while representing England at Euro 2024, saying that the media scrutiny took a huge told on both him and his family.
While several months have passed since then, it’s still something which is clearly impacting the 21-year-old.
Bellingham posted a cryptic message on social media after the November international break in which he said that he ‘got his smile’ back under Lee Carsley.
Speaking to the media ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Liverpool, Bellingham explained: “I’ve got to be honest I lost my smile a lot after the Euros because I felt like I was a little bit mistreated in comparison to what I contributed.
“I felt like some of it was a bit harsh on me. I felt like the scapegoat. Maybe I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself. The last England camp (a week ago) with a lot of new faces really brought out the joy in my game again and I think you can see that in the two games.
“In general, I haven’t lost my smile in a Madrid shirt. I am annoyed when we lose and I get frustrated but it is never a case of not being happy. I’m the luckiest lad in the world. I get to play week in, week out for the biggest club in the world and represent my country. The smile is back.
He continued: “I understand that playing for Real Madrid the expectations are going to be high for me wherever I go with the national team. I felt like I contributed some pretty big moments and, in the end, it kind of felt like the whole world was crumbling down on me after the Euros.
“One of the big criticisms of me was that I didn’t speak to the media or didn’t want to do press conferences. That was reported in a way that it made out I thought I was above it, that’s not that at all. I had some personal things going on.
“Journalists went to go and see members of my family while I was at the tournament, went to visit my grandparents and that’s something I kept to myself. I don’t think that’s fair. I think that crosses the line of respect.
“That’s where I took it a little bit personally and decided I was going to focus on football and try to let that do the talking instead of talking in the press to people who seemingly don’t respect me. That was the thing for me. Family comes first.
“My nan didn’t want to leave her house for the whole summer, bless her. Maybe I should have communicated that before so people understood my situation but that was a little bit more personal and that’s why I decided to keep my mouth shut.
“Criticism is part of the game and I know how to accept it – but when it feels personal it does give you a bit of a new challenge to continue to shut people up. That’s something I’ve dealt with since I was very young and came into the first team at Birmingham.”
Undoubtedly one of England’s biggest stars with six goals in 40 senior caps, Bellingham is a player who the Three Lions are going to need if they’re to be successful in the years to come.
Responding to his comments on talkSPORT, ex-Tottenham striker Darren Bent said: “It makes a lot of sense.
“I wouldn’t say he was the scapegoat but because we expected so much from him after the season he’d had for Real Madrid I think that people maybe expected more – he looked a bit tired to me.
“In saying that, whenever England needed a big moment he was the guy to produce that and how important he is to this setup.
“Talking about being following to his grandparents’ house, I totally agree when he says that family comes first because when you go to a player’s family’s house, you’re crossing a line there.
“If you don’t have permission then what are you trying to achieve by going there? That would bother me.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s just one – I’d think that the moment one of you crosses the line then I don’t trust any of you.
“It’s just a lack of respect to go there and then expect me to be all smiles, it’s just a lack of respect.”
However Danny Mills – England’s starting right-back at the 2002 world Cup – took a more critical view, saying: “I don’t particularly like it, to be honest.
“He’s just come out with his own YouTube story and talking about everything that went on.
“In the Euros he didn’t play well, simple as that. That’s probably why he lost his smile – there’s big expectations and he didn’t perform.
“Of course he’s going to get criticised for that.
“It just doesn’t come across great. After the celebration when he scored it was a bit, ‘It’s all about me, aren’t I great,’ and I don’t think it comes across particularly well.
“He didn’t do press conferences or want to speak to the media – how can you be a senior player or a leader if you’re not going to do that?
“Harry Kane does it every single time, Declan Rice does it for club and country so if you want to be that player and you want all the plaudits and attention and sponsorship deals then you’ve got to take the other side of it. You can’t have it all one way.”
In response, Bent stated: “I understand it and Millsy makes a couple of points, but Harry Kane is an experienced international with 100 caps.
“Yes Bellingham has played a lot of football but he’s only 21-years-old, he’s been thrust into the limelight.”
