"I don't think we could have predicted how quickly Bellingham could mature. Southgate, who has consistently been willing to give opportunities to young players, admitted that even he has been taken aback by the speed of Bellingham's development. It is a sign of the confidence England have in Bellingham that against Senegal he was chosen to be left back to cover the defence when the central defenders advanced for a corner. He looks like he belongs out there." Biggest test I watched England players play for England for many years and the weight of the shirt was enormous," said Neville. "It's the maturity and fearlessness that I can't get my head around. Keane's old club were very close to signing Bellingham before he moved to Dortmund, and this World Cup is only going to increase the interest among the top teams in Europe - and drive up Bellingham's price.Īnother former United captain-turned-pundit, Gary Neville, was impressed by the way Bellingham has coped on the biggest stage without any hint of being overawed. Keane, who is notoriously hard to impress, added that "the kid has everything." He's got that maturity and decision-making." we talk about his physicality, but it's what goes on in his brain.
"Usually you see that from a world-class player who's 26 or 27. "I've not seen a young midfielder perform like that for years," former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, now a television analyst, said after the Senegal match. He became a full England international in November 2020, with only Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott having played for the country at a younger age.Īt last year's Euros, Bellingham became the youngest England player to have played at a major tournament and, at that time, the youngest player from any country to have featured in the European Championship. When he was sold to Borussia Dortmund for a reported fee of €25 million, he became the most expensive 17-year-old in the history of the game and promptly became the German club's youngest scorer. 'He has everything'Īt 16 years and 38 days old, the son of a police sergeant became the youngest player to debut in the first team at his boyhood club Birmingham City and 25 days later became the youngest player to score for the team. High praise indeed, but it is unlikely to go to his head - Bellingham is accustomed to accolades and well used to defying age expectations. "I like Jude a lot, he's a really good person, he's mature for his age, and he's got great leadership skills as well," Kane added. "With the ball, he can run, he can take players on, he can play a through ball, and as you saw today, he was really important with our goal," said the England striker. He has everything with and without the ball, presses really well, gets around the pitch, tackles," said captain Harry Kane.
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