Wayne Rooney has Jude Bellingham theory on England star who's 'not quite right' (2024)

England legend Wayne Rooney offered his thoughts on a "very frustrated" Jude Bellingham who's been struggling to replicate his Real Madrid form at Euro 2024 so far

Wayne Rooney has theorised that Jude Bellingham is "not quite right" despite England topping their group at Euro 2024.

Bellingham has looked slightly off tempo since scoring England's first goal of the tournament in Germany - a leaping header against Serbia in their Group C opener - failing to make a mark from attacking midfield. And England legend Rooney, who played in the same position for his country towards the end of his own footballing career, has a theory as to why he hasn't been performing.

Speaking to BBC Five Live Sport this week, Rooney said: "For me, he's looked very frustrated - and I've been there, exactly the position he's in and even the game yesterday you seen him throwing his arms up in the air. And I think as a talisman for England, now for Real Madrid, I don't think, well I certainly haven't, no one's heard him speak.

"So what's the reason for that? I think as one of the iconic players now for England in the squad, in the team he should be fronting that - and you know yesterday we seen Cole Palmer speaking, we seen Anthony Gordon speaking who are playing parts in the tournament at the minute.

"People want Jude and Harry [Kane] and Kyle Walker, Jordan Pickford, these senior players. I know Jude's not but you know, he's going to play if fit and you want to hear him speak and I think that tells me that he's probably not quite right."

Bellingham enjoyed a whirlwind season with Real Madrid, scoring 23 goals and setting 11 up across La Liga, the Champions League, the Copa del Ray and the Supercopa. And fans of England want to see more from the 20-year-old star man during the Euros this summer, especially when surrounded by talents like Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.

Despite a 1-0 win in their initial game against Serbia, England have failed to do much at this summer's tournament thus far. A disappointing 1-1 draw with Denmark and a 0-0 tie with Slovenia would see the Three Lions top the group with five points, but criticism has flown in over the nation's thirst for goals.

However, Kane has asked fans to get behind the team instead of criticising, telling a press conference: "People are going to have their opinions – I’m not saying to not talk about it or for the pundits to say ‘this could be better, that could be better’.

"That’s part of being a fan, all I would say is trust is.. As players we’ve been here before and done it a lot of us, trust us as much as possible, get behind us and help us achieve what we want to achieve and that’s to be successful.

"With podcasts and things like that people are trying to promote their own channels and sometimes the headline, because you want the most views, isn’t always what people want to see. People will do things for their own gain.

"That’s just life but first and foremost we try to ignore. But we should try to back the English players as much as possible because we are doing all we can to make everyone proud, the fans and pundits proud. I know they would love nothing more if we are all celebrating after the Euros."

As England topped their group, they will go on to face Slovakia in the round of 16. A win there will see them face reigning champions Italy or Switzerland, before Romania, the Netherlands, Austria or Turkey in the semi-finals. On the other side of the group, hosts Germany face Denmark, Spain are up against Georgia, France face Belgium and Portugal take on Slovenia.

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