Bellingham Drinks in the Moment with Cheeky Celebration Dig at Critics
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham responded to online trolls with a pointed drinking gesture celebration after scoring against Monaco in the Champions League.
England star turns mockery into motivation as he silences doubters with goal and pointed celebration in Madrid’s European romp
Taking the Mickey
Jude Bellingham isn’t just letting the social media trolls live rent-free in his head - he’s charging them back with interest. The England midfielder had the last laugh against Monaco with not just a goal, but a celebration that spoke volumes about how closely he monitors what’s said about him online.
After slotting home Madrid’s sixth of the night from a tidy Valverde pass, Bellingham broke into a repeated drinking gesture - first with one hand, then the other, then both - directly mocking those who’ve spread rumors online about his supposed drinking habits.
“Les devolví la broma a los fans,” Bellingham explained post-match, essentially saying he was giving the joke right back to those who started it.
Finding Form Under New Management?
It’s been a strange old season for the former Dortmund star, who’s struggled to recapture the dazzling form that made him an instant Bernabéu darling last campaign:
- Just 6 goals and 4 assists in 24 appearances this season
- Faced boos alongside Vinicius during Saturday’s match
- Failed to find his best position under Xabi Alonso
The Monaco match offered a glimpse of what might be possible under new gaffer Arbeloa, with Bellingham looking more like his old self. The new boss now has the task of helping Jude rediscover the magic that made him such a sensation during his debut Madrid season.
Handling the Heat
To his credit, Bellingham seems to be taking the criticism in his stride. When asked about the recent whistles from the Bernabéu crowd, he showed remarkable maturity:
“I’ve always said fans work all week, pay to come here and have the right to do what they want,” he acknowledged, refusing to take the hump with supporters who’ve been on his case.
He also took time to praise Vinicius, who was involved in four of Madrid’s six goals against Monaco, noting how the Brazilian “shines when he receives affection” and “moves to another level” when the fans get behind him.
Perhaps that’s the secret sauce for Bellingham too - a bit of love from the stands and he might be back to his best before you can say “Bob’s your uncle.”