Ian Wright has been hailed a ‘hero’ and the ‘last man with integrity in football’ after warning England is ‘not ready for a Black superstar’ in Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham’s role in the England team is under the spotlight with Wright this week sharing fears a false narrative has been built around the Real Madrid star in the media.
The 22-year-old returned to the Three Lions squad for final World Cup qualifying games against Serbia and Albania, expressing his frustration with being subbed off on Sunday night which drew a warning from Thomas Tuchel after the game.
On The Overlap this week, Arsenal legend Wright launched another passionate defence of the midfielder, sharing the fears he holds over how Bellingham has emerged as an easy target for daring to be great.
‘I’m worried for Jude because he is someone they can’t control,’ Wright said. ‘He is showing I’m here, I’m Black, I’m proud and I’m ready to go. All that vibe is something certain man can’t deal with.’
Your ultimate guide to the football season
Metro’s football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it’s an open goal.
The Arsenal legend drew comparisons with former Manchester United star Paul Pogba, another black footballer who was relentlessly scrutinised during his time in the Premier League. Wright is convinced history is repeating itself with Bellingham who is ‘frightening certain people’ in the media and across society for not ‘keeping his head down’.
‘I don’t think they’re ready for a Black superstar,’ he continued. ‘Who can move like Jude is moving. They can’t touch him. He goes out there, he performs, he does what he does, he says “who else?”. It’s too uppity for these people.
‘I’ll put it in football terms. They all love N’Golo Kante. He’s a humble Black man, gets on with what he’s doing. Not saying that he’s an uncle Tom or anything, that’s just how his personality is.
‘But if you get a Pogba, or a Bellingham, and you get that kind of energy, that does not sit well with the people. That kind of person.
‘So someone like Jude, for some reason, frightens these people because of his capability and the inspiration he can give.
‘It’s something that you’re taught as a Black man when you’re going out there, you just want to do the best you can and keep your head down. And be, for want of a better term, a humble f*****g slave.
‘This is dragging up from that kind of energy. Because if you are outspoken, Black, and playing to that kind of level and not caring, that frightens certain people.’
Seemingly in response to one journalist in particular, Wright continued: ‘That’s what’s happening with Jude. This guy is obsessed with him. He’s moving off that type of energy. He can’t see a Black man doing what Jude is doing and not think that it’s not uppity. That he’s not an uppity n****r. I’m going with that. That’s what that comes down to.’
Wright’s comments have drawn huge praise across social media. ‘What we have all been waiting for. Shrewd analysis and I’m so glad Ian Wright’s voice is the prominent one here,’ journalist Morgan Ofori wrote. ‘He’ll know better than most.’
‘Ian Wright. Came out and said what we all knew was going on. Legend,’ another wrote. @LibanLDN added: ‘Upmost respect for Ian Wright always. A man of honour, dignity and pride.’
Football content creator Jack Durkin said: ‘Said it before and I’ll say it again, Ian Wright is a national hero’.