JUDE Bellingham has gushed about his England team-mate Marc Guehi, calling him ‘the most humble Geezer’ and ‘uncle Marc’, in reference to his maturity and presence.
Bellingham, one of the world’s best attacking midfielders at the age of just 21, has been well used to the limelight since the age of seventeen when he joined Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham City. He has already won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid as well as numerous personal honours.
Guehi, 23, has had a less spectacular rise to the England team but has been one of Gareth Southgate’s best players in a tournament in which the side has been criticised for the performances to far as they have limped to a quarter-final tie against Switzerland this Saturday.
England were seconds from elimination in the second round against Slovakia before Guehi headed on Kyle Walker’s long throw-in and Bellingham brilliantly fired in an overhead kick. Harry Kane scored the winner in extra-time.
After the final whistle, as the players congratulated each other on the pitch, Guehi went to shake Bellingham’s hand but the latter grabbed his team-mate and pulled him in for a hug.
In a lovely video posted by England’s social media team, Bellingham is watching those moments on a phone and reacting to them.
“Look at Marc there, just trying to slip away. He’s just the most humble geezer ever, isn’t he?” Bellingham says.
“He thinks I’m just going to let him get away with a little handshake after he set up the most important goal of my life.
“I’m really big on giving people their flowers, especially when they’ve been as good as he has so far this tournament.
“He’s set up a goal that’s so important to us as a team and, you know, still he’s trying to just squirm away and get out of there. And I’m just, like, nah, you’re coming with me.
“He’s only a little bit older than me but I think when you speak to him and when you’re around him you just get the idea he’s 40 and he’s played, like, three careers.
“He’s such a nice guy that you actually forget about his physical presence and playing against him. Whenever I see Marc going up or headers I think, ‘it’s nice guy Marc’, and then it’s like, ‘boom’. And it’s, ‘okay, not so nice Marc’.
“Yeah, brilliant guy, man. Uncle Marc.”
Unfortunately for England, the pair won’t have the chance to link up again this weekend as Guehi is serving a one-match ban for picking up two bookings so far in the tournament.
Three Lions supporters will be hoping Bellingham does his mate a favour and they will see them in action together in the semi-finals.
