Jude Bellingham has given one Manchester City player very high praise.
Despite having a mixed bag of a European Championship so far, there is no questioning that Bellingham is one of the best players in the world.
The 20-year-old should be viewed as one of the contenders to win the Ballon d’Or later this year — even if England fail to win Euro 2024.
Bellingham’s impact in his debut season in a Real Madrid shirt is perhaps only rivalled by Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2009/2010 campaign in recent history.
Jude Bellingham makes fresh Kyle Walker revelation
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder could well have improved as a player due to the standard of players he goes toe-to-toe against in training at Real Madrid — with names like Vinicius Junior, Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Antonio Rudiger springing to mind.
However, the youngster would probably admit that any potential improved in his game has also taken place due to the tests he faced in training at the national team.
When Bellingham was quizzed about the hardest player he has come up against in England training, he named Kyle Walker.
The Champions League winner asked England’s in-house media: “Ever or with England? With England, yeah?”
“I think, Walks.”
Kyle Walker must have given Jude Bellingham a tough time
While Bellingham is not a left-winger, his tendency to drift towards the left-hand side of the attack perhaps means he has had to go face-to-face with Walker.
The £175,000-a-week man, however, would have given the ex-Birmingham City hero a tough time.
Walker’s lightning pace would have meant that Bellingham would have struggled to get past him.
While one of the attributes that the highly-rated goalscorer is known for his strength, the Manchester City right-back has been one of the strongest players in the world for years.
Especially in small-sided games that often take place in training, Bellingham would not even be afforded the space to get the better of Walker.
The 34-year-old would have relished the challenge of having to mark one of the best young players in European football as well.