Barnes believes that the criticism stems less from genuine concern about Bellingham's health or fitness, and more from a desire to find a scapegoat for on-field struggles. Football fans and pundits often look for easy explanations when a star player’s level drops, and lifestyle is a convenient target.
“If you’re not playing at your best or you’re having a dip in form, people will always try to attribute your behaviour outside of football as a reason behind poor performances, but I don’t believe that is the case here,” Barnes explained.
The midfielder, who took La Liga by storm in his debut season, has faced a tougher ride in his third campaign, but Barnes sees this as a temporary blip rather than a terminal decline caused by distractions. “Once Bellingham is back scoring goals and providing like we know he can, there’ll be no questions asked about his lifestyle or what he gets up to in his personal life,” he added.
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