Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham could have played for England’s rivals – but made debut against Ireland instead

Jude Bellingham has established himself as one of the world’s best players having starred for Real Madrid and England.

A two-time Euros finalist with the Three Lions and a Champions League and LaLiga winner with Los Blancos, the 21-year-old is also the reigning holder of the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy award.

But the ex-Birmingham starlet’s international career could have been very different if he had chosen to represent England’s rivals instead.

The midfielder qualified to play for the Republic of Ireland through his paternal grandmother.

Bellingham was even famously pictured wearing a full Ireland kit during his childhood.

Bit he decided against ever making himself eligible to feature for the Boys In Green.

And after coming up through the Young Lions set-up, it was Ireland who he made his senior debut against for England in a 2020 friendly, where he replaced Mason Mount from the bench.

Though he will not be facing Ireland in the upcoming Nations League clash in Dublin having suffered a leg injury.

Bellingham is one of three current England stars alongside Declan Rice and Jack Grealish who could be lining up for Ireland, with the trio all securing £100million-plus moves in recent years.

Rice was capped three times for Ireland in 2018 before switching allegiances to England, while Grealish represented Ireland at Under-17, U18 and U21 youth level.

While Rice and Grealish earned big-money moves to remain in the Premier League at Arsenal and Manchester City respectively, Bellingham swapped Borussia Dortmund for the Bernabeu in 2023.

And he made brilliant use of his heritage by applying for an Irish heritage to exploit a LaLiga rule.

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As per Spanish top-flight rules, clubs can have no more than five non-EU players registered in their squad.

And with England no longer in the European Union, Bellingham’s Irish passport trick saved Real an extra non-EU spot.

It is the same loophole used by Conor Gallagher, who also applied for an Irish passport following his move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid.

Bellingham’s debut for England against Ireland in November 2020 is the last time that two nations have met ahead of this weekend’s clash.

From the starting XI, just Nick Pope, Harry Maguire, Bukayo Saka and Grealish have been included in Lee Carsley’s first squad as interim boss.

Incredibly, Gunners right winger Saka started as a left wing-back at Wembley in a 3-0 victory for the hosts.

Maguire opened the scoring in the behind-closed-doors encounter due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Jadon Sancho doubled England’s lead just after the half-hour mark, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin slotted home from the penalty spot in the 56th minute.

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