Jude Bellingham Takes a Swipe at Cristian Romero with Messi Mention in Madrid Derby
During Sunday's intense Madrid derby, Jude Bellingham took a sharp jab at Cristian Romero, mentioning Lionel Messi amidst their heated confrontation.
The clash saw Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid edge out Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid with a 2-1 win, though controversy shadowed the result. Real Madrid’s manager openly criticized the referees for mistakes after the match, and Bellingham voiced his frustration on the pitch as well.
Spanish referee Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias sent off Dean Huijsen and awarded a penalty that allowed Alejandro Grimaldo to put Atleti ahead. Jonathan David added a second goal in the second half. Real pulled one back late through Antonio Rudiger but left empty-handed and furious.
Bellingham’s Messi Reference During Heated Moment
Bellingham’s annoyance boiled over after being booked for a foul on Romero. VAR reviewed the incident and changed the decision, giving Romero a yellow card instead. Real Madrid believed Romero should have seen red for a dangerous tackle, especially since Kang-in Lee escaped punishment for a high challenge on Federico Valverde, who could now miss months due to injury.
After the match, Bellingham confronted Romero about the tackle, delivering an 11-word remark that was captured on video and spread widely. According to Movistar's El Día Después, Bellingham said: "When you’re with [Lionel] Messi, you talk a lot. But here, nothing."
It’s reported Bellingham called Romero a 'coward,' while Romero fired back calling the Englishman a 'cry baby' and reminded him of Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England at the World Cup semi-final, saying Bellingham "cried over there." After the game, Bellingham was also heard shouting, "two red cards, two red cards."
Real Madrid Responds to Derby Controversies
Following the derby, Real Madrid released several statements. They demanded La Liga president Javier Tebas resign after he dismissed claims that referees are biased against Real Madrid, calling such accusations delusional.
Bellingham Opens Up About Messi Incident
One memorable moment from the World Cup was the exchange between Bellingham and Messi during England’s loss to Argentina. The interaction sparked speculation that it motivated Messi's comeback performance. In a clip, Messi is seen nodding sarcastically at Bellingham, which fans saw as a sign of tension. Bellingham later downplayed the moment (via AS):
"We were really just discussing a foul, actually. It wasn't anything bad... I thought there had been a foul earlier, and he said, 'What about the one on me?' And I said, 'You're strong enough to take it,' you know what I mean?"
Bellingham shone at the World Cup and has started the season strongly for Real Madrid, scoring three goals and assisting three in eight games.
La Liga Standings After the Derby
- Barcelona: 1st place, leading the table
- Atletico Madrid: 3rd place, 5 points behind Barcelona
- Real Madrid: 4th place, 6 points behind Barcelona, 1 point behind Atletico
The derby loss came just before the international break and leaves Mourinho's squad chasing their rivals in La Liga.
