 |
| Juan Manuel Serrano Arce / Getty |
Jude Bellingham's red card against Osasuna was a big talking point of this weekend - and whether people agree with the decision or not, it highlights the Englishman's attitude problems, which have only heightened since his move from Dortmund to Madrid.
After a long chat with referee Jose Luis Munuera Montero following a free kick, many noticed the player say 'f**k off' as he turned away, which was deemed enough for a straight red. We don't normally see red cards given for dissent - perhaps it was the length heightening of debate from Jude which made up the ref's mind - though we will never know, nor hear the full extent of what was said.
I don't doubt that Jude Bellingham is an incredibly talented player and I am proud of his achievements - but moving to one of the biggest clubs in the world while you are still a teenager can have dangerous side effects. This is especially true with a club such as Real Madrid - who are so hyper-fixated on success for their players that they boycott the Ballon D'or when one of them doesn't win.
I saw this side of Jude at the Euros last year. I was miffed when he said 'who else' after scoring to keep us in the competition. There were a whole variety of factors that contributed to us losing the final, but he seemed to believe he was carrying the weight of the entire team on his shoulders - when there were hidden gems out of the limelight that didn't seem to get the appreciation that they deserved.
There were also shades at Dortmund - where it was rumoured the dressing room were happy to see him leave. Some spoke of his desire to receive commendation at a time when Erling Haaland was scoring a goal every game, eventually earning a move to Manchester City where he has continued to mould himself into one of Europe's best number 9s.
In a lot of cases I can understand Jude's frustration (take one look at the officiating in the Premier League) but treating every single referee with the same level of respect is something that every footballer needs to keep in their mind.
At the start of last season the Premier League introduced a rule stating only team captains were allowed to speak with the referee about a decision. I'm not sure to what extent this has been maintained and upheld, but it helps to avoid situations such as this where the referee is swamped with several voices all at once.
When watching the moment back, Jude seemed to take over from his captain Luka Modric and continue talking with the referee long after the decision was made, and this could have been a factor that contributed to the red card. Rival head coach Hansi Flick weighed in on the decision and added that players shouldn't 'waste time and energy' by continuing to argue with the referee.
Carlo Ancelotti also tried to take some heat out of the situation by suggesting that there was a communication breakdown between player and referee, but didn't want to elaborate any further in fears of getting himself into trouble as well.
Bellingham is a talented player. You would fail to make a convincing argument that he wasn't. Even after a tricky start to this season, he has thrived and it is really rewarding to see him become a more key part of Madrid's current setup. He exploded in his first season, becoming one of the main goalscorers for the club prior to Mbappe's arrival.
It's also important for him to understand that he is still only twenty-one, still with room to grow, and with teammates that carry more wisdom and experience. I really hope that he can avoid going down this path of arrogance and keep his head down, to avoid further situations like this one.