Former England striker Ian Wright believes Jude Bellingham’s treatment in the media reflects racial bias, suggesting some people are “not ready for a black superstar.”
Bellingham faced criticism for his reaction after being substituted in England’s World Cup qualifying win against Albania. Wright argued that the Real Madrid midfielder “frightens certain people” because of his talent, confidence, and visibility.
“He’s showing people that I’m here, I’m black, I’m proud, I’m ready to go,” Wright said on The Overlap YouTube channel.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who moved from Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund in 2020 and then to Real Madrid in 2023 for £115m, has already won La Liga and the Champions League. His rise has drawn both praise and scrutiny, with some pundits seeing parallels to Raheem Sterling’s past experiences with media bias.
Wright added:
“I don’t think they’re ready for a black superstar who can move like Jude. Someone like him frightens people because of his capability and the inspiration he can give.”
Despite his talent, Bellingham is no longer guaranteed a starting spot under England manager Thomas Tuchel, who has stressed the importance of standards, respect, and squad competition.
Bellingham’s career continues to grow, but Wright and others warn that media scrutiny often carries racial undertones, as seen in past cases with England stars like Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho.
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