You’re a disappointment, learn from Lamine Yamal — Liverpool legend rips Jude Bellingham to shreds amid challenging season with Madrid
Jude Bellingham has been slammed hard by Liverpool legend Graeme Souness.
The former Scotland international turned TV pundit, has seemingly had enough of the Real Madrid midfielder’s attitude and warned him to take notes from Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
In his latest no-holds-barred column for the Daily Mail, Souness did not hold back.
The 71-year-old Scot praised 17-year-old Yamal for a stunning performance against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final first leg, where the Spanish sensation scored and tore apart the Italian defence.
But while Yamal rose to the occasion, Bellingham, 20, has come under fire for what Souness sees as a worrying dip in form and attitude.
“No one at 17 should be that good”
Souness was all-in on the hype surrounding Yamal, saying: “Watching Lamine Yamal against Inter Milan this week, no one at 17 should be that good.
“It’s just wrong! My tongue is placed firmly in cheek by the way but there’s no denying we are watching the emergence of a very special talent.”
He continued: “He’s already played 100 first-team games and he’s not 18 until July. What’s difficult to comprehend for someone his age is not just his talent or athleticism, it’s his decision-making on the football pitch.
“He makes decisions you’d expect from a player much beyond his years. He is already outstripping Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi at the same age.”
Souness even pointed out Yamal’s character: “Add the fact that he enjoys the discipline of doing the hard yards too and he looks, from afar, to be a thoroughly good sort.”
“This year has been a disappointment” — Souness hands Bellingham brutal verdict
And then came the hammer.
Turning his attention to Bellingham, Souness did not mince his words:
“Watching Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid of late has been concerning. He had an incredible first season in Spain, looked a world-beater but now I’m afraid it looks like he’s not listening anymore.”
Souness drilled deeper, by criticising the attitude of the Three Lions star:
“I hope I’m wrong. But this year has been a disappointment, and you have to question some of Bellingham’s behaviour, showing dissent, needlessly getting into trouble with referees.”
He continued: “If he is listening to anyone, then their advice looks misguided. And, if he is putting this attitude down to what he thinks is overexuberant shows of passion, then he is also mistaken. It’s a perfect example of what Yamal needs to avoid.”
Souness ended with a sharp warning:
“It’s not just Bellingham, of course, but I’d hate to see him continue going that way. He needs to look at videos of what he hasn’t been doing right. I hate to harp on about it, but that’s the value of having good senior professionals around.”
“The message will always be never believe you are too wise to stop learning and listening.”
Bellingham has taken La Liga by storm winning the Spanish title and the Champions League in his debut season.
However, the Los Blancos, who remain firmly in the title race, have endured an underwhelming season having been embarrassed out of the Champions League before losing the Copa del Rey final to their arch rivals in dramatic fashion.