Ian Wright believes the media are to blame for causing a rift between Jude Bellingham and England boss Thomas Tuchel.

Tuchel has not been shy at taking aim at Bellingham since he took charge of the Three Lions.

The German called Bellingham's on-field behaviour "repulsive", before rowing back on those comments, but then left the Real Madrid star out of his squad for England's fixtures in October.

Bellingham returned to the fold this month and started on Sunday against Albania, receiving the Player of the Match award for his efforts in a 2-0 win.

However, Tuchel was not impressed by how Bellingham reacted to being substituted in the second half, and warned the 22-year-old that he must "accept and respect" his decisions.

"An important win."

Hear from Player of the Match @BellinghamJude on tonight's victory in Tirana… pic.twitter.com/wDPOENQMID

— England (@England) November 16, 2025

Former England and Arsenal forward Wright, though, has come to Bellingham's defence.

Wright wrote on Instagram: "They [the media] need to create this kind of beef because there's nothing else to talk about [until] the World Cup so it's going to be this all the way to the World Cup.

"They hate that they can't get to him. They hate that they can't influence his career like they have done to so many before him.

"A blessed young man with talent and love in abundance."

Tuchel did stress that he did not wish to make Bellingham's reaction to his substitution against Albania "a bigger moment than it is".

With England's place at next year's World Cup secure, Tuchel has four months to plan his next squad before the Three Lions reconvene in March.