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Images of Jude Bellingham and his Real Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni enjoying a hilarious row over Bayern Munich’s Eric Dier have resurfaced ahead of the Champions League clash.
Eyebrows were raised when the 30-year-old joined Thomas Tuchel’s side on loan after falling out of favor at Tottenham following the appointment of Ange Postecoglou.
However, the England international has been an ever-present in Bayern’s defence, restricting the likes of Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upemacano to substitute appearances.
The latter proved to be a bone of contention between Bellingham and Tchouameni ahead of Madrid’s Champions League semi-final clash against the Bundesliga side this week.
Bellingham insisted his compatriot has the advantage over Upemacano, although Tchouameni did not accept the pressure from the England star.
Jude Bellingham (right) mocked his Real Madrid teammate, Aurelien Tchouameni (left), and claimed that Eric Dier is a better player than Dayot Upemacano.
The French international did not get carried away and defended his compatriot ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League match against Bayern.
Dier has been a surprise coup in Bavaria following his loan from Tottenham in January.
The back and forth began when Bellingham said, “It’s amazing, right?” To which Tchouameni replied: “We don’t care.”
Bellingham said, “He’s better than your boy.” Before the French international responded: ‘Who? Please please…’
Their debate is not one that anyone would have considered at the beginning of the current campaign, perhaps not even a few months ago.
But Dier has been solid in key matchups for Tuchel’s side, while Upemacano has made several high-profile errors this season.
Ahead of Bayern’s 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, Tuchel praised the addition of Dier and credited him for being an “important piece of the puzzle.”
‘Eric Dier has been an excellent signing. “I’m very happy with him,” stated the former Chelsea manager. ‘He has absolutely exceeded expectations.
It’s an extremely important piece of the puzzle. He’s organized and vocal, something we haven’t had as much. I’m very happy.’
Since entering Die Roten’s starting lineup, he has started 14 of 16 games and Bayern have never looked back. Dier’s loan has been made permanent.
His renaissance is such that Dier believes he has a good chance of making the England squad for Euro 2024.
‘If I play for a club like Bayern and do well, I will have a good chance. Why not?’ he said in March. Since then he has done nothing but improve his case.
By contrast, Upemacano has had a difficult campaign with several high-profile mistakes, including a red card in Bayern’s round of 16 first leg defeat to Lazio.
Dier has reunited with his former Spurs team-mate Harry Kane at Bayern as the pair seek success in the Champions League this season.
Manager Thomas Tuchel praised the addition of Dier and credited him for being an “important piece of the puzzle.”
He continued: ‘The national team is a really simple thing. You try to play your best for your club and everything else is out of your control. “I haven’t spoken to Gareth, but it’s up to me to play well.”
Dier has not played for England since coming on as a substitute against Senegal in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar.
