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6 months ago
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Jude Bellingham and his Real Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni enjoyed a playful dispute over Bayern Munich's Eric Dier, who has emerged as one of the German club's most dependable defenders.
Eyebrows were raised when the 30-year-old joined Thomas Tuchel's side on loan after falling out of favour at Tottenham, following the appointment of Ange Postecoglou.
However, the England international has been ever-present in the Bayern defence, restricting the likes of Kim min-jae and Dayot Upemacano to substitute appearances.
The latter proved to be a source of contention between Bellingham and Tchouameni ahead of Madrid's Champions League semi-final meeting against the Bundesliga outfit this week.
Bellingham insisted his countryman has the edge over Upemacano, though, Tchouameni was having none of the England star's prodding.
Jude Bellingham (right) teased his Real Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni (left) and claimed that Eric Dier is a better player than Dayot Upemacano
The French international was having none of it and defended his compatriot, ahead of Madrid's Champions League clash against Bayern on Tuesday
Dier has been a surprise hit in Bavaria following his loan move from Tottenham in January
The back and forth began with Bellingham saying: 'It's amazing right.' To which Tchouameni replied: 'We don't care.'
Bellingham said: 'He's better than your boy.' Before the French international replied: 'Who? Please, please...'
Their debate is not one anyone would have entertained at the start of the current campaign, perhaps not even a few months ago.
But Dier has been solid in key clashes for Tuchel's side, while Upemacano has produced several high-profile errors this term.
Ahead of Bayern's 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, Tuchel hailed Dier's addition and credited him with being an 'important piece of the jigsaw.'
'Eric Dier has been an excellent signing. I’m extremely pleased with him,' the former Chelsea manager said. 'He's absolutely exceeded expectations.
'He's an extremely important piece of the jigsaw. He's organised, vocal, which we've not had as much. I’m very happy.'
Since breaking into the starting line-up for Die Roten, he has started 14 of 16 games and Bayern have never looked back. Dier's loan has been made permanent.
Such is his renaissance that Dier thinks he has a decent shot of making England's Euro 2024 squad.
'If I am playing for a club like Bayern and if I am playing well, I should have a good chance. Why not?' he said in March. He has only enhanced his case since then.
By contrast, Upemacano has had a testing campaign with several high-profile mistakes including a red card in Bayern's last-16 first leg defeat by Lazio
Dier has reunited with his old Spurs team-mate Harry Kane at Bayern, as the pair seek success in the Champions League this term
Manager Thomas Tuchel hailed Dier's addition and credited him with being an 'important piece of the jigsaw'
He continued: 'The national team is a really simple thing. You try to play as well as possible for your club and everything else is out of your control. 'I have not spoken to Gareth but it is up to me to play well.'
Dier has not played for England since he featured as a substitute against Senegal in the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup.
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