England players reportedly thought Jude Bellingham received preferential treatment at Euro 2024, with the midfielder currently in the spotlight following Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Spain.
The 21-year-old endured a difficult tournament out in Germany, scoring just twice and sometimes cutting a frustrated figure during matches.
Bellingham, who flourished for Real Madrid last term as the club won a LaLiga and Champions League double, scored for England in fixtures against Serbia and Slovakia.
But his overall performances failed to live up to the billing, especially given everything he achieved at the Bernabeu under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti.
England players reportedly thought Jude Bellingham received preferential treatment at Euro 2024, with the midfielder currently in the spotlight following Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Spain.
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According to the Daily Mail, Bellingham's influence 'has grown'.
He was promoted to England's leadership group before the start of the tournament, with the former Birmingham and Borussia Dortmund star part of a special party also consisting of Kyle Walker, Harry Kane and Declan Rice.
But the report says that with Bellingham apparently refusing to participate in the vast majority of England's media operations, figures within the camp believe he got preferential treatment at the tournament.
Some fear that though Bellingham's quality is set to serve England well in the coming years ahead, there's also a risk the 21-year-old could become 'overpowering'.
The Three Lions star was visibly pained by Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024.
Bellingham had gone into the game hoping to make his mark and fire England to a first major trophy since the World Cup back in 1966.
But with Spain superior in every department, the 21-year-old ended up being left frustrated.
After the game, Bellingham's temper boiled over with the Real Madrid star kicking a drinks bucket before choosing to sit, alone, in the England dugout.
Many of his team-mates were consoling each other on the pitch at the time.
Bellingham did eventually go and join the rest of the England squad but not everybody seemed keen to see him. One image of Cole Palmer appearing to snub his team-mate has gone viral on social media in the short time since the defeat.
The report says there was an eyebrow-raising incident surrounding Bellingham earlier in the tournament.
The England star visited Erfurt in Germany with his mother and father on a day off. Others made the same trip but Bellingham 'created a frenzy' by choosing to sit in full view at the La Piazzetta restaurant in the main square of the town.
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England star Jude Bellingham toiled against Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday night
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He also wore a Nike tracksuit. Given he's represented by Adidas, it didn't go unnoticed at the headquarters of the sportswear giants.
Bellingham is set to play a big role for England for many years to come.
And he insisted after the defeat to Spain that the future was bright, telling ITV: “We all wanted nothing more than to make history and to make the people of England proud and we haven’t managed to do it, we didn’t quite deliver.
“There’s reasons for that and I’m sure as a team and going forward, we’ll analyse it but I think it’s a young group still.
England star Jude Bellingham was devastated following his side's Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain on Sunday night
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"It’s really disappointing because at some point we do have to deliver, but there are experiences and there’s things we can take from this tournament going forward.
“I suppose if you look at everything negatively, nothing will ever change. So it’s important we pick the positives and the negatives together and find a way to one day get England over the line."
