Jude Bellingham hails Thomas Meunier as "Belgian Beckham"
Jude Bellingham has hailed Borussia Dortmund teammate Thomas Meunier as the “Belgian Beckham” after the right-back produced another laser-guided assist at the weekend.
After Raphael Guerreiro put BVB 1-0 up at home to Union Berlin on Saturday, Meunier was heavily involved in his team’s second goal, scampering down the right wing and floating a sublime cross into the box for Erling Haaland to head in.
Dortmund went on to win the game 4-2, their fourth in five Bundesliga outings this term, while for Meunier it was his second assist of the campaign, having teed up Haaland for a similar goal in the 4-3 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 4.
Watch: Skip to 00:38 for Meunier's assist against Union
His precise deliveries have not gone unnoticed by his teammates. While Meunier was conducting post-match interviews on the pitch following the Union game, Bellingham was standing close by and dubbed him the “Belgian Beckham” in a tribute to the former England captain.
Head coach Marco Rose has also been impressed. The 45-year-old could be seen on the touchline making a ‘chef’s kiss’ gesture towards Meunier in celebration of his latest goal contribution, and at his media debriefing after the final whistle the tactician went on to explain why he had done so.
“It was a little kiss. It wasn’t directed at Erling but at Thomas Meunier for his cross,” Rose said.
"It was the second time – actually the third time because he provided an assist for Erling in Leverkusen but it was disallowed – that he’s delivered an inch-perfect cross like that.
“We’re having a lot of fun with Thomas at the moment because he’s really rolling now and finding his form.”
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The 30-year-old arrived in Dortmund from Paris Saint-Germain last season, making 21 Bundesliga appearances but just 17 starts as he struggled to establish himself ahead of Mateu Morey and Lukasz Piszczek at right-back.
Injury and illness meant that Felix Passlack had a run of games at the start of 2021/22, but Meunier has since played the full 90 minutes in each of Dortmund’s last four competitive games – all of which have ended in victories.
And with Haaland now adding headed goals to his already intimidating array of attacking weapons, the understanding with Meunier is a partnership that looks set to continue to blossom.
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