Wayne Rooney has hailed Jude Bellingham as England’s ‘future captain’ but says fans need to ‘support him’ if his form ever does ‘dip’.
The 20-year-old joined Real Madrid ahead of their 2023/24 campaign and has made a phenomenal impact - having already scored eight goals in eight league games.
On Tuesday, the Birmingham-born midfielder registered two assists during England’s 3-1 win over Italy, and now former international Rooney, 37, has had his say.
While preparing for his first game in charge of the Blues, the former Three Lion said: “What [Jude Bellingham’s] doing is incredible. He showed his ability and maturity by taking a gamble and going to Dortmund - and it was a gamble.“Then, to go to the next level at Real Madrid and start the season the way he has with England, it’s been great.”
He continued to say that he believes Bellingham is in ‘such a good run of form’ and that he has the ‘potential’ to become one of the best footballers in the world.
“He’s in a purple patch. In my eyes, he’s a future captain. He’s really impressed with how he handles himself, how he speaks, how he plays - he’s a leader already - at the age of 20,” the ex-DC United manager continued.
“But I think what’s important is that he will have a dip and it’s important we don’t kill him when that happens - that we just get behind him and stick with him.
“He’s someone we really need to protect and really look forward to the future with him.”
The former United icon said that a lull in form ‘happens to all players’ and that England fans are ‘too quick to get on players’ backs’.
“He’s in the best form of his life but if he does have that dip, let’s all get behind him. Adversity happens and it will happen with Jude, you’ve seen it with Marcus [Rashford] and Raheem [Sterling].”
The 37-year-old also called for fans to get behind the likes of Harry Maguire, who has been the target of online abuse in recent months.“Let’s get behind all the other players — Maguire, who has had a difficult time at Manchester United.”
Interestingly, Rooney’s comments on Bellingham echo a warning Sven Goran-Eriksson delivered back in 2006.
During his final press conference, the former England manager urged football fans not to ‘kill’ his player for being sent off by Horacio Elizondo in their World Cup quarter-final loss to Portugal.
Speaking at the time Goran-Eriksson, now 75, said: “I think that you, much more than me, need Wayne Rooney. He is the golden boy of English football, so don't kill him."If he did it with intention or not, leave it - you need him for the qualification games and to win Euro 2008. I have no hard feelings.”
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