Liverpool legend sends message to Jude Bellingham and issues three-word warning

Liverpool legend Didi Hamann believes that Jude Bellingham is dangerously close to overstepping the mark with his antics at Euro 2024.

England’s star midfielder, 21, has scored twice at the tournament and was the team’s saviour against Slovakia. Bellingham shouted, “Who else” towards the crowd after scoring a bicycle kick that kept Gareth Southgate’s side in the tournament with seconds left on the clock.

A prodigious talent who often plays on edge, Bellingham is understandably full of confidence after winning La Liga and the Champions League during his first year with Real Madrid. However, ex-Liverpool hero Hamann feels that a concerning pattern is emerging and has issued a “cut it out” warning to the England midfielder.

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“I think there is definitely a danger that Jude Bellingham is starting to believe his own fairy tales,” the ex-Liverpool hero told Gambling Zone. “There was his celebration and then when he walked past the Slovakia bench, he did something that offended them.

“He said afterwards that it was a private joke aimed at his friends who were sat near them. I don't know if that’s true or not, but I think he's got to be careful because in the first game he ran into Kostić after he won the tackle, and he was lucky not to get booked for that.

“He's got to leave them things out because there's always someone bigger than you and the other players will watch his antics.

“I think he's got to be very careful because the one thing you shouldn't do is disrespect your opponents,” Hamann added. “Against Slovakia he made his excuses, but it wouldn't have been the first time that something has happened with him. Somebody has to tell him it's needless and he should cut it out.”

UEFA have launched an investigation into a gesture made by Bellingham at full-time against Slovakia, though it is unlikely the midfielder will be banned for England’s quarter-final tie with Switzerland at the weekend.

Addressing the incident on social media, Bellingham wrote: "An inside joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game. Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight."

England left it late to secure the win against Slovakia and have remained unconvincing, despite reaching the latter stages. Liverpool’s Joe Gomez could yet fill in for the injured Kieran Trippier at left-back, while there have been calls for Southgate to better utilise Trent Alexander-Arnold’s passing ability, as well as the pace offered by ex-Everton winger Anthony Gordon.