Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham says he has got his smile back after feeling like a “scapegoate” playing for England at Euro 2024.
Bellingham scored England’s first goal of the summer tournament in Germany against Serbia before his spectacular overhead kick in stoppage time against Slovakia prevented the Three Lions from embarassingly crashing out in the last 16.
Gareth Southgate’s men eventually went on to reach the final before losing to Spain but were criticised for their conservative approach, with Bellingham – seen as a key man – bearing the brunt of much of the blame.
“I lost my smile a lot playing for England after the Euros as I felt I was a little mistreated compared to what I contributed,” the 21-year-old said before Real Madrid’s Champions League meeting with Liverpool.
“I think it was a bit harsh on me. I felt a bit like the scapegoat. Maybe I felt a bit sorry for myself.
“I felt I contributed some pretty big moments, but it felt like the whole world was crumbling down on me, especially in the three days after the final. It wasn’t a nice feeling.
“The last [England] camp 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 the 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.
“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 a bit like the scapegoat…”
Jude Bellingham explains why he “lost his smile” after playing for England at the Euros 🏴 pic.twitter.com/A6c1gFDFy2
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Bellingham: ‘My nan didn’t want to leave the house’
Bellingham also addressed reports that he refused to speak to the media during the tournament.
“That was reported in a way that made it sound like I think I’m above it, but it’s not that at all,” he said.
“I had some personal things going on where journalists had gone to see members of my family while I was at the tournament, my grandparents.
“I don’t think that’s fair, it crosses the line of respect. That’s where I took it a little bit personally and decided I would just focus on the football and let that do the talking, instead of talking in the press to people that seemingly don’t respect me.
“My family comes first – my nan didn’t want to leave her house for the whole summer.
“Maybe I should have communicated that so people understood my situation, but that was a little bit more personal to me so that’s why I decided to keep my mouth shut.”
New Real Madrid role
Bellingham has adjusted to a new role with Real this season after scoring 23 goals as a false nine in his debut campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu following the arrival of superstar striker Kylian Mbappe in the summer.
“I arrived last summer and the club lost arguably one of the greatest goal scorers of the generation in Karim Benzema,” Bellingham added.
“This year we’ve signed one of the best players of this generation, he’s someone who has scored an amazing amount of goals so as a team we expect him to do that.
“For me, I know then my role differs, which I’m happy to do… [but] I also want to take that responsibility – now I’ve got the smell for it again in these last couple of games.”
