Arsenal star Declan Rice tipped for huge new role as brutal Jude Bellingham message sent

Arsenal star Declan Rice tipped for huge new role as brutal Jude Bellingham message sent Newspoint | 2025-02-19T04:39:12+08:00

Arsenal star Declan Rice has been backed to become England captain ahead of Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham. Both midfielders have been key for the Three Lions over the last few years and will be looking for trophies on the international stage alongside domestic success.

Both Madrid and Arsenal are firmly locked in title races but the duo endured very different weekends. , Madrid went a third successive league game without a victory after drawing against Osasuna with Bellingham sent off.

Following his dismissal, the 21-year-old has been a trending topic which has resulted in former Premier League striker Stan Collymore offering an honest verdict on him while also explaining why Rice is better-suited to be a captain.

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“A lot of fans talk about Jude Bellingham, saying that he’s overrated and it’s all just hype," he told . "But let’s be clear, Jude is an exceptional, athletic midfielder who, at his best, can pick the ball up midway through the opponent's half, drive past players, create chances, and score goals.

He is a top-quality player, absolutely. There are no questions about his ability. He’s world-class, but he’s not a captain. “Someone like Declan Rice would be a better England captain. He leads by example, is vocal without going over the top — unlike Bellingham, as we saw with his red card at the weekend.

"Rice gets the players around him going, and he’s growing into the role. He sees everything on the pitch, picks the ball up from the back four, and gets forward. He probably needs to add more goals to his game, and by his own admission, I think he knows that.

“Giving Rice the captaincy would free Bellingham up to just enjoy his football and play with that feisty, natural energy. If you put the responsibility of captaincy on him — especially for England — it could restrict him.

"Real Madrid is arguably the biggest club in the world, and the spotlight is on him every week. But with England, the scrutiny is different. If England reach a quarter-final or semi-final, the entire country micro-analyses everything." And Bellingham will have a chance to further prove himself on Wednesday evening in the Champions League.

After scoring Madrid's third against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium in a 3-2 victory last week, Pep Guardiola's side travel to the Spanish capital for their play-off second leg with a spot in the last-16 up for grabs.