‘Above his station’ – Jude Bellingham accused of disrespecting England team-mate Harry Kane with penalty antics in Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich

A thrilling European encounter at the Allianz Arena finished 2-2, meaning that there is still all to play for heading into the second leg of a heavyweight semi-final tie. Kane had been hoping to send Bayern to Santiago Bernabeu with a lead after registering his 43rd goal of the season.

Kane held his nerve to convert from the penalty spot, after England team-mate Bellingham tried to get in his ear. The Real midfielder’s distraction technique made no impact, though, as Kane rolled the ball into the bottom corner, but questions have been asked of why he felt the need to get involved at all.

Ex-England international Chris Sutton has told the Daily Mail’s ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ podcast of 20-year-old Bellingham trying to disrupt the routine of a more experienced colleague: “I was surprised. Whether you like it or I like it, it doesn't matter. Did Harry Kane like it? Does Harry Kane like it 24 hours on? I think he would feel there's a bit of a lack of respect there. I really, really do. They're off to the Euros together. There's a big competition, a big moment. You can understand the desperation for Bellingham, for Real Madrid to go through. But I thought it was a strange move. He's had a brilliant start to his career, exceptional at Dortmund. He's gone to Madrid but maybe people are viewing him as someone who may be getting a bit above his station when he does stuff like that.”

Kane had no issue with Bellingham’s antics, saying when quizzed on the incident afterwards: “I spoke to him after and he said: ‘I know you're going to go left of the keeper’. But it was nice for me because I saw the keeper go a little bit early and I put it away. I knew [Bellingham] was there but I didn't know what he said. But I went left anyway.”

Bellingham and Kane will lock horns again at the Bernabeu next Wednesday. They are both looking to book dates for a final showdown at Wembley on June 1, before then turning their attention to a quest for Euro 2024 glory with England.