FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER and current pundit Gary Neville has claimed that England's newest superstar Jude Bellingham reminds him of his former teammate Roy Keane, but also admitted that the 19-year-old is better than the legendary Manchester United captain.
Football fans will know Bellingham has been highly rated for quite some time. He made his debut for Birmingham City at 16, moved to German club Borussia Dortmund at 17, and now has become an England regular at 19.
Yesterday, the young England starlet had another impressive display for Gareth Southgates men in the 3-0 win over Senegal.
The midfielder played a crucial role in the opening goal, assisting Jordan Henderson for the opener. His desire to win the ball during a Senegal attack kickstarted another move which resulted in a goal for Harry Kane.
The plaudits and acclaim has poured in for England's new star since the game ended.
Neville believes that Bellingham reminds him of his former teammate Keane, but went onto to say that he's more complete at 19 then the Cork native was.
🏴 Steven Gerrard
🇮🇪 Roy Keane@GNev2 compares Jude Bellingham to two greats of the game and says he’s never seen anyone do what he’s doing at the World Cup at 19-years-old. 🌟 #ThreeLions #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/e6I55oxQPS— Football Daily (@footballdaily) December 5, 2022
"We've become obsessed over the last ten or fifteen years with trying to describe what type of midfielder every midfield player is," Neville said on Sky Sports News.
"You get put into boxes. You're compartmentalised, you're either a holding player, a box-to-box player or a goalscoring midfielder player or number ten.
"This lad can do everything, absolutely everything. They've very unique players. I was in the studio with one Roy Keane that could do everything.
"I think Steven Gerrard could do everything. He could defend, he could pass, he could attack. These are very unique talents in world football and ones that I played with.
"That's what he reminds me of. For me to put him in that category, that is really high praise because you couldn't make me talk any higher about those types of players and their ability to contribute in different areas of the pitch.
"How, at 19, he's delivering it, is the unique part. Roy Keane wasn't delivering it at 19 and neither was Steven Gerrard, it was a little bit later.
"What he's doing now in a World Cup, I've not seen before. It's breathtaking."
Keane also had his say on Bellingham's talent
When it's a bit tight you need a midfielder to run and produce a bit of magic, and that's what Bellingham did there. Brilliant,' Keane told ITV Sport.
'This is what you want from a midfielder, powerful, strong, anticipation, a little bit of luck but it's game over.
'He's going to be a superstar that kid. We keep using the word but maturity, he plays like he's played 100 times for England.'
He later added: 'I've not seen a young midfielder perform like that for years. His maturity, his decision making, which is huge for a midfielder, the kid has everything.
"I watched players play for England for many years, the weight of the shirt was enormous. He just doesn't feel it at all, he looks like he belongs out there, like he wants it and needs it in his life."
England play France next Saturday at 7pm.
Jude Bellingham’s numbers in 2022 so far ⭐️🏴 #Qatar2022
10 total goals
4 total assists
1 World Cup goal
1 World Cup assist
…world class. 🧞♂️ pic.twitter.com/HqwNlWgtH1— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 4, 2022
