Jude Bellingham phones Carlo Ancelotti over England issues

England midfielder Jude Bellingham called former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti during the 2026 World Cup after his 4‑2 victory over Croatia, seeking advice on his strained relationship with England coach Thomas Tuchel. The call came amid criticism of his attitude and a recent apology from Tuchel, who had described Bellingham’s behaviour as “repulsive”.

Arda Guler expressed frustration after Turkey’s side became one of the first teams eliminated from the 2026 World Cup, falling 1‑0 to Paraguay. The early exit contrasted with his strong finish to the previous season before an injury.

Bellingham’s relationship with England manager Thomas Tuchel has been strained, with Tuchel previously criticizing the midfielder’s attitude. During the first international break, Tuchel apologised after calling Bellingham’s behaviour “repulsive”, highlighting their lack of eye‑to‑eye contact.

Seeking advice, Bellingham called former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. He also reached out to the current Brazil manager, citing Ancelotti’s extensive experience and his own ties with Tuchel.

Bellingham aims to rediscover form under Jose Mourinho, after two seasons marred by injuries, inconsistency and an unclear role. The England star hopes Mourinho can restore his confidence ahead of the tournament’s remaining matches.

Ancelotti had previously extracted Bellingham’s best performance in his first season, and Mourinho now faces the task of doing the same while integrating the midfielder with the attacking talents of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.