Jude Bellingham 'was approached by England boss Gareth Southgate over arrogance concerns' as details emerge

Bellingham's stunning rise continued on Tuesday night with a brilliant performance for England as they beat Italy 3-1 to book their place at next summer's European Championships.

He is the talk of world football right now, especially with the youngster netting 10 goals from as many games since his move to Real Madrid back in the summer.

Bellingham is a superstar - and has been destined for the very top ever since starting out as a teenager at Birmingham.

He earned his move to Madrid back in the summer after previously shining for Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

According to the Daily Mail, however, some within Dortmund had concerns that Bellingham was too arrogant for his own good.

Some of his former team-mates in Germany were 'upset' by the way the midfielder would be 'too forthright' in his opinions for someone so young.

And it's said Southgate was made aware of the concerns over Bellingham's attitude prior to the World Cup in Qatar last winter.

Southgate, it's claimed, 'delicately approached the issue' with his star asset.

A source is quoted as defending Bellingham, saying: "I don’t think it was ever in a nasty way, it’s just an incredible confidence to have."

Bellingham joined Dortmund back in the summer transfer window of 2020.

He had originally been expected to join Manchester United, with many clubs feeling he'd agreed a deal with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.

In the end, however, he opted to move to Germany having been wooed by the promise of immediate first-team football.

Bellingham also factored Jadon Sancho into his decision to turn down United, too.

Sancho electrified the Bundesliga during his own time with Dortmund, having left Manchester City for the German giants back in 2017.

He was allowed to grow and develop away from the intensity of English football and ended up becoming a significant asset for Dortmund.

And Bellingham's family wanted the same for their son, who has since established himself as one of the best players in the whole of world football.

The Real Madrid star could also have joined Arsenal earlier in his career, too.

The Gunners were apparently within 'a whisker' of securing Bellingham's signature while he was playing for Birmingham's Under-14s.

Arsenal were prepared to pay a fee of £500,000 in compensation in order to land the England star.

But the north London giants shot themselves in the foot with a delay of no more than 20 hours ultimately scuppering their plans.

Bellingham proceeded to sign a contract with Birmingham instead and made 44 appearances prior to departing St Andrew's in 2020.

Meanwhile, speaking after England's win over Italy, Bellingham delivered a blow to Premier League clubs by making it clear he wants to stay in Spain for many years to come.

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"I am getting a little better each time I play," he said.

"It was a really good night for us, we all remember what happened a few years ago when they played us here [in the Euro 2020 final, which England lost on penalties].

"You always aim for progression. We are heading in the right direction and a very important win for us.

"I am loving football at the minute. My management at club and country are giving me freedom to play it how I see it.

"Since the last few months I have been really working on my timing getting into the box and as I am arriving I am arriving with a big hunger.

"With the big transfer the fact is I have to deliver, whether it is a goal or assist or a match-winning performance.

"This is the club I want to be at for the next 10 to 15 years of my life. I am loving it there.

"Carlo [Ancelotti] basically said this position is where he sees me."