England star set for awkward reunion after Jude Bellingham World Cup slap controversy
The article reports that England and Chelsea defender Reece James faces an awkward reunion at Stamford Bridge following an incident at the 2026 World Cup semi-final. Jude Bellingham, playing for England, slapped Argentina substitute Valentin Barco on the back of the head after Barco taunted England players during Argentina's celebrations. Barco has since completed a £34 million transfer to Chelsea from sister club Strasbourg. As Chelsea captain, James will be responsible for integrating Barco into the squad. New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso also faces the challenge of managing team dynamics. Additionally, new Chelsea signing Morgan Rogers, a friend of Bellingham, may also be slow to warm to Barco. Trevoh Chalobah, another England squad member at Chelsea, is linked with a move away.
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