Paul Merson claims Jude Bellingham is ‘years ahead of his time’ after stunning performance against Italy and believes Real Madrid star will be England’s X-factor at Euro 2024

Paul Merson believes Jude Bellingham could be England’s ‘X-factor’ at next summer’s European Championship and described the Real Madrid star as ‘years ahead of his time’.

The 20-year-old cemented his growing reputation as one of the best players in the world with another brilliant performance as England defeated Italy 3-1 at Wembley on Tuesday night to book their place in the 2024 European Championship with two games to go.

Bellingham was again at the heart of everything England did and was substituted late in the second half to a standing ovation.

The youngster won the penalty which Harry Kane converted to level the Three Lions level after Gianluca Scamacca had given the visitors the lead, setting up Marcus Rashford’s second with a sublime piece of individual brilliance.

Bellingham won the ball on the edge of the England penalty area with a sliding tackle, before tearing through the Italian midfield with a trademark bursting run to meet Rashford’s finish.

Jude Bellingham inspired England to a 3-1 victory over Italy at Wembley on Tuesday evening

Paul Merson believes the 20-year-old is ‘years ahead of his time’

And Merson said Bellingham’s maturity belied his young age.

“It’s scary when you think about his age and in my opinion he also plays in the most difficult position on the football pitch,” the former Arsenal and England midfielder wrote in his speech. Air sports column.

‘He makes the right decisions, both in and out of possession. Football is about decision making. Right now he’s making the decisions of a 28- or 29-year-old player and making sure they’re all good.

‘It’s so hard to explain what he does. He is years ahead of his time.’

Bellingham have taken LaLiga by storm following a £113million move to Real Madrid. scored 10 goals in 10 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos.

Amazingly, the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has already been named Player of the Match nine times this season, with the latest accolade coming on Tuesday evening.

England will head to Germany next summer as one of the teams to beat and Merson believes Bellingham will be key to their chances of finally winning a major tournament, 57 years after winning the 1966 World Cup.

Bellingham won the penalty that led to England’s equalizer and set up Marcus Rashord’s goal with a brilliant, bursting run

‘To win tournaments you need world-class players. You need game changers,” he wrote.

‘At the last World Cup you see France reach the final thanks to Kylian Mbappé and you see Argentina win thanks to Lionel Messi.

‘In the past, Cristiano Ronaldo has done the same for Portugal.

‘Every team needs that X-factor. You just have to have it to win silverware.’

After the win over Italy, Bellingham revealed his ambitions to stay at Real Madrid for more than a decade in one fell swoop for supporters hoping to see him Premier League.

“I’m loving football at the moment,” he told Channel 4.

‘My management at club and country gives me the freedom to play the way I see it.

Bellingham revealed that he plans to stay at Real Madrid for ten to fifteen years

‘This is the club I want to be at for the next ten to fifteen years of my life. I love it. (Real manager) Carlo (Ancelotti) actually said he sees me in this position.”

However, Merson suggested the Premier League will be difficult for Bellingham to ignore.

“Only time will tell, but I am sure the challenge of the Premier League will appeal to Bellingham,” he added.

‘I would like to see him in the Premier League one day, maybe in four or five years, when he has done everything he needs to do in Madrid.’