England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed he intends to hold talks with Jude Bellingham regarding the midfielder’s role in the national team setup after leaving him out of the October international squad.
Bellingham, one of the most high-profile English players in world football, was omitted from Tuchel’s latest selection, officially due to fitness concerns following his recovery from shoulder surgery.
However, the decision reignited scrutiny over their relationship, particularly after Tuchel described Bellingham’s attitude as “repulsive” in June—a remark he later apologized for, citing a poor choice of words.
Speaking ahead of England’s final World Cup qualifying window, Tuchel emphasized that his decision was not a punishment but part of maintaining communication with all potential squad members.
“He’s an important player, he’s a big player,” Tuchel said. “I will speak to a lot of players, especially the ones not in camp. No one has done anything wrong—it’s not a punishment. Everyone is eager to come back, and I have trust in more than just the players who are here.”
Tuchel also used the opportunity to lay down a clear warning: commitment to team culture will be as important as performances on the pitch.
“If we invite them, we are sure they will buy in, or we will not invite them,” he insisted. “Inclusion has to be deserved first of all, and it needs to make sense. That’s non-negotiable.”
England have already secured top spot in their World Cup qualifying group, giving Tuchel the flexibility to rotate his squad when they face Serbia at Wembley on November 13 before travelling to Albania three days later.
The England boss confirmed he plans to “share some minutes” as he continues shaping his long-term squad vision.
