Wright hits back at media criticism of Bellingham & claims England ‘not ready for a black superstar’

Former England striker Ian Wright suggested that some sections of the public were “not ready for a black star”, referring to the way Jude Bellingham has been treated by the media in recent weeks.

The Real Madrid midfielder was under the microscope after his angry reaction to being substituted during England’s victory over Albania in the World Cup qualifiers.

His response has once again drawn attention, especially since Thomas Tuchel – who earlier this year apologized to Bellingham for calling his behavior “disgusting” – said he would look into the incident.

Bellingham’s importance to England seemed unquestionable after his impressive performances at Euro 2024, but under Tuchel his place is no longer guaranteed.

For Wright, the tone and volume of criticism directed at the 22-year-old is not just about football. He believes perceptions are shaped by race, arguing that Bellingham’s personality and confidence alarm some observers.

“I’m worried about Jude because he’s simply someone like them [the media] “I can’t control it,” Wright said on The Overlap YouTube channel.

“It shows people that I’m here, I’m black, I’m proud, and I’m ready to go.”

Since leaving Birmingham at the age of 17, Billingham’s rise has been meteoric. His big-money move to Borussia Dortmund was followed by a move to Real Madrid in a deal that could reach £115m.

He performed immediately, helping Real Madrid win La Liga and the Champions League in his first season, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists.

He also produced one of the decisive moments in the UEFA Euro 2024 through his exceptional 95th-minute shot with a back kick against Slovakia in the round of 16.

In the same show, Gary Neville referred to Raheem Sterling’s belief that he was unfairly targeted by some in the media during Euro 2016.

Sterling later highlighted the double standards in how black players are portrayed in print coverage, suggesting that it fuels harmful stereotypes.

Asked if he saw similarities, Wright said: “I don’t think they’re ready for a black star, who can move like Judd moves. They can’t touch him. He goes out there, performs, does what he does.”

“It’s very arrogant for these guys. I’ll put it in football terms. They all love N’Golo Kante. He’s a humble black man, he keeps doing what he’s doing. He’s a humble black man, he keeps doing what he’s doing.”

“But if you get [Paul] Pogba, or Bellingham, you get that kind of energy, which doesn’t sit well with people. So someone like Judd, for some reason, intimidates these people because of his ability and the inspiration he can provide.

Bellingham was left out of England’s October squad for matches against Wales and Latvia, and only returned this month for qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

He came off the bench just after the hour mark against Serbia and was substituted late on against Albania.