England midfielder Declan Rice believes Jude Bellingham is ‘the future of English football’ amid speculation over a move to Liverpool.
Bellingham impressed in an England shirt again during the recent international break, starting alongside Rice against Italy and Germany in the clearest sign yet that Gareth Southgate has nailed down that position for the World Cup. The 19-year-old led the fight back from 2-0 down on Monday evening, driving the ball forward with another mature display.
Such performances are likely to be repeated in Qatar later this year and can only increase continent-wide interest in the teenager, with Jurgen Klopp no doubt keeping a close eye on him while amid links with Liverpool. Praise has been high for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder over the past week, with Southgate citing his ‘top-level mentality’ as the biggest quality at such a young age.
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And now midfield partner and England favourite Rice has gone further to predict Bellingham is ‘the future of English football’. The West Ham man has seen his fair share of top-level youngsters come into the England team, including the likes of Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Mason Mount - but he went as far as to say he hasn’t seen anyone reach Bellingham’s level before they hit 20.
“I don't think I've seen anyone as good as he is for 19,” Rice told the Mirror. “I look at a lot of 19 year-olds, whether it's at a club, around the world, around the country. To have the whole package is a hard thing … and I feel like he's got that.
“He's 19 but he's got the body of a 28-year-old - he's a man. He thinks like a man, plays like a man and shows personality and character. I've been around and played so many more games than he has in my career but you can just tell as a 19-year-old what he brings to the team already, the energy he's got. He can play in a holding role, he can play as an eight, he can play as a 10.
“He's a man - you can see it when he plays for Dortmund. As a 19-year-old, you're normally scared to talk to the referee but he's in the referee's face demanding answers, demanding decisions and he leaves himself on the pitch constantly. He really pushes you on the pitch. We push each other on and it's a privilege to play next to him.
“Hopefully, he keeps flourishing. He's the future of English football to come for the next 15 years.”
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