Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson has hit Jude Bellingham with an audacious nutmeg during England team training.
The nutmeg, as seen on the Hayters TV YouTube Channel (13mins 18 secs) led to raucous screams from the rest of the England squad.
During the team’s ‘rondo’s’ session, Henderson turned a chest pass from James Ward-Prowse through Bellingham’s legs as he tried to close him down.
Teammate’s Mason Mount, Declan Rice and Conor Coady in particular seemed to enjoy the moment. Meanwhile Henderson wagged a finger in the face of Bellingham, who seemed to protest that the ball went under his foot.
Great to see Hendo getting in amongst the fun with his younger teammates.
A sign of things to come
Henderson of course is well-versed in rondo’s. The passing drill is a go-to exercise for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. The Reds’ ‘Inside Training’ series often shows up the competitiveness that can sometimes go with these exercises.
Liverpool, as reported by The Mirror, are interested in bringing Bellingham to Anfield this summer. If he does arrive, he’ll have to sharpen up on the rondo’s front.
With the likes of Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz around, let alone Henderson, you can be made to look foolish by any number of players.
It’s all good fun though, and the friendly teasing shows that Henderson and Bellingham have a good relationship.
Liverpool fans will be hopeful that the captain can use that relationship to attempt to convince the 18-year-old that his future is best served with him on Merseyside.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder ranked top of Goal’s NXGN top 50 wonderkids in football lists last week. Bringing him to the club would be a huge statement of intent.
But should Bellingham be on Liverpool’s shopping list this summer, they’ll face competition from across the continent. Realtionship’s such as the one Henderson has with his younger teammate can prove to be important in giving teams a slight edge.
Just don’t nutmeg him too many more times, ey Hendo!
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