Jude Bellingham started Real Madrid’s Champions League tie against Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday night
Jude Bellingham cut a cool and composed figure ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League tie against Liverpool. Making his way through the tunnel at Anfield to start his side’s warm-up, the former Birmingham City man also stopped to embrace Rio Ferdinand and Jules Breach, who were chatting live on TNT Sports.
Speaking ahead of the game, the 21-year-old midfielder revealed that he was unhappy with how the media covered his Euro 2024 campaign. He claimed that he felt like a ‘scapegoat’ after Spain stormed past England in the final last summer.
“I lost my smile because I felt I was a bit mistreated compared to what I contributed,” he said on the eve of the game. “I felt a bit of a scapegoat. I hadn’t lost my smile in a Madrid shirt. I
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“‘I’m the luckiest lad in the world. It was more to do with how I was treated off the back of the Euros. But the smile is back.”
The Real Madrid star then added: “I felt like I contributed some big moments [with England] and it felt like the whole world was crumbling down on me, especially the days after the final. It wasn’t a nice feeling. A big criticism was that I didn’t speak to the media, it was reported I felt like I’m above it.
“But I had some personal things going on. I had journalists visit my family, my grandparents. I think that crosses the line of respect, I took that personally and decided to focus on my football. It was personal to me, and I decided to keep my mouth shut.”
Despite his concerns with how the media covered his actions, on and off the pitch, at the tournament, he still made time for Ferdinand and Breach in the Anfield tunnel – which speaks volumes about his character and maturity.
In the build-up to the Reds clash, Bellingham was also quizzed on his future at the Santiago Bernabeu and whether he’d consider joining the Reds one day. Remaining respectful towards to Real Madrid, the 21-year-old told TNT Sports: “I think [a transfer to Liverpool] wasn’t as close as people made out in the media.
“I think maybe they led people on a little bit. When Madrid came knocking, I felt like that was the perfect club for me, but Steven Gerrard is a massive hero of mine. It would be nice to have a Steven Gerrard-esque performance, but it will be very difficult so we’ll see.”
He added: “I’m very happy at Madrid. I think the next 10, 15 years will be in white for me.”
