Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney says youngster Jude Bellingham reminds him a lot about himself and must remain calm at the EURO 2024.
Wayne Rooney, the former Manchester United and England superstar, has drawn from his own experiences to offer advice to Jude Bellingham, the young sensation playing for England at the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament.
Rooney, who was once known for his passionate and at times, volatile playing style, has noticed Bellingham struggling to keep his emotions in check during the early stages of the competition.
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Rooney warns Bellingham
The 21-year-old Real Madrid midfielder, who has already scored for England in the tournament, has been observed visibly frustrated at times, with the former England captain warning him against letting that frustration boil over.
"Three or four times in the first half [against Slovenia] he could not hide his frustration,” Rooney stated according to Goal.com. “He was turning round to look at others and throwing his arms up. Body language like that sends a message to the fans, to his teammates, to the manager.”
Rooney himself was infamously sent off during the 2006 World Cup, has urged Bellingham to remain calm and composed, drawing parallels between the young midfielder and his own experiences playing for the national team.
"I've been there. I know exactly the position he's in. I found myself in that headspace many times in international football, and at certain points in my club career,” the former England star stated further.
“I just hope the frustration doesn't boil over to the point where he gets a red card or does something stupid and gets himself injured."
Despite his struggles early on, Bellingham has shown his quality, with Rooney praising the youngster's abilities while offering a word of caution.
"Throughout this tournament, it has looked as if he has been trying too hard, and when you try too hard, you make decisions you don't normally make."
However, Rooney's words of wisdom seemed to have paid dividends, as Bellingham played a pivotal role in England's dramatic comeback victory over Slovakia in the round of 16.
With England trailing 1-0 late in the game, Bellingham scored a remarkable overhead kick in the dying moments to draw his side level and force extra time, where Harry Kane eventually netted the winner to secure England's progression to the quarterfinals.
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