During Sunday’s heated El Clásico, Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham once more landed at the middle of the action, where he motivated his team to a vital 2-1 win over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After scoring one goal and assisting another, the England player got into a furious argument with Barcelona’s Pedri, which set off hostilities between the two rivals once again.
Real Madrid’s victory was greatly helped by Bellingham, fresh from shoulder surgery. Before he scored a second goal right before halftime from Eder Militao’s header, his wonderful through ball established Kylian Mbappe for the opener. The show not only highlighted his position as among Madrid’s most decisive players but also propelled Carlo Ancelotti’s team five points clear at the summit of La Liga.
The News Chronicle observed that tempers flared when Pedri urged referee Cesar Soto Grado to send Bellingham off following a foul. Spanish reports allege that Bellingham fired back with a pointed remark, referencing the ongoing “Negreira case” that has overshadowed Barcelona in recent years.
The midfielder is said to have told Pedri, “Not even with Negreira,” a comment interpreted as a jibe at the controversy surrounding alleged payments Barcelona made to a former refereeing official.
Still under investigation, the Negreira scandal alleges that between 2001 and 2018, Barcelona paid millions to affect referee decisions. Even if bribery allegations were dropped early this year, the corruption investigation continues, hurting the image of the Catalan club and preserving conflict in Spanish football.
Bellingham’s post-match behavior was noted alongside the verbal argument. Cameras recorded him gesturing provocatively toward supporters, an echo of a comparable incident during Euro 2024, for which he received a UEFA punishment. After the game, he appeared to take another subtle dig—this time at Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal—posting “Talk is cheap. HALA MADRID SIEMPRE” on Instagram.
Despite the controversy, Bellingham emphasized teamwork after the match, praising his teammates’ resilience and describing the win as “a magnificent performance from the whole team.”
