Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder, expressed feelings of being unfairly labeled as a ‘scapegoat’ after England’s disappointing run in the recent European Championship.
Despite his standout performance, including a stunning overhead kick against Slovakia in the round of 16 that was one of the tournament’s highlights, Bellingham revealed on Tuesday that he faced undue criticism for his contributions.
“Honestly, I felt like I lost my smile a lot after the Euros when playing for England,” he shared. “I believed I was a bit mistreated compared to what I brought to the team. Some of the criticism felt harsh, and I found myself in the role of a scapegoat. Perhaps I was feeling sorry for myself.”
Bellingham entered the Euros on the back of a remarkable season with Real Madrid, where he clinched both the Spanish league title and the Champions League, earning the title of player of the season in Spain’s top division.
During the tournament, he netted two goals, helping England reach the final, where they ultimately fell to Spain.
Reflecting on his experience, he stated, “I felt I made significant contributions, yet after the Euros, it seemed like everything was collapsing around me, particularly in the days following the final. It was a tough feeling.”
Recently, Bellingham played a key role in helping England secure promotion to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League. He took to Instagram earlier this month to announce that he had “got his smile back.”
This week, he returns to England as Real Madrid prepares to face Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.
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