Wayne Rooney comments on Jude Bellingham speak volumes after winning Marcus Rashford battle

Jude Bellingham was left out of England’s last squad and there are questions over his relationship with Thomas Tuchel – but Wayne Rooney insists the Real Madrid star needs to be in the squad and must keep being arrogant

Jude Bellingham has been told to continue being arrogant – because he is England’s most special player.

That’s the view of Wayne Rooney, who reckons Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel was wrong to axe the Real Madrid superstar from his last squad. Former England captain Rooney has told Tuchel that Bellingham has to be included in his World Cup squad next summer.

And Rooney believes Belingham’s impressive performance in last weekend’s Clasico, coming out on top against Marcus Rashford’s Barcelona – with Bellingham notching Madrid’s winner – proved Tuchel has been wrong to ignore the midfielder. He told the Wayne Rooney Show: “It was a great reaction to being left out of the England squad. That’s what he can do, and that’s why he’s such a special player. He has special moments.

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“We saw it in the Euros and again now with Madrid. He’s had big moments and in the biggest game arguably there is out there, El Clasico. He has an impact, he gets the assist, gets the goal, and that’s a mindset when you get left out – do you sit there and sulk, or do you go and react.

“Try and prove people wrong – and he’s gone and done that. I’ve heard the debate over the last few weeks, should he be in the England squad come the World Cup…

“He has to be in the England squad. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. Harry Kane’s the one they all rely on, but when you need something he’s the one (Bellingham), who can go and do that as well.

“You need players who do have that attitude, and I don’t mean attitude in a bad way, but that attitude to walk on a pitch and look at the opponent and say, ‘do you know what, I’m better than you’.

“You need that. It’s not a bad thing to have, and I think Jude Belligham has got that. “We’ve seen that since he was a very young age and he’s still very young, but you need match winners, you need people who will have moments, special moments – and he’ll certainly provide that for you.”

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sport YouTube & iPlayer, listen on BBC Sounds. Episodes drop every Friday & Monday morning.

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