Gianfranco Zola has been left in hysterics after listening back to his ‘breast milk’ confession to Jude Bellingham live on TV this week.
Zola was on punditry duties for England 3-1 victory against Italy in midweek, and had been left impressed by the impressive display from the Three Lions.
But it was a bizarre admission that left Jude Bellingham and fellow pundits in stitches while trying to compliment the midfielder’s performance.
The game saw the Three Lions qualify for Euro 2024 with 20 year old Bellingham winning a first half penalty – which Harry Kane scored from – and then setting up Marcus Rashford for England’s second.
‘I have to say it makes me laugh this guy,’ Zola said on Channel 4’s coverage of the game when addressing Bellingham, Jill Scott and Joe Cole and presenter Jules Breach.
‘At 20-years-old, I was still drinking milk from my mum and this guy is so huge. I’m very impressed.’
π£οΈ Gianfranco Zola to Jude Bellingham: βI have to say, it makes me laugh, at 20 years old I was still drinking milk from my mother!β π€£
π₯ @C4sport pic.twitter.com/Z8N7ACKNBX
β Football Tweet β½ξ¨ (@Football__Tweet) October 18, 2023
Sometimes I get lost in translation!β π
Gianfranco Zola explains his Channel 4 howler that went viral after England v Italy.
Watching him listen to it is priceless. π€£π€£ pic.twitter.com/T2FDBxK786
β talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 19, 2023
Gianfranco Zola explained his Channel 4 howler that went viral after England v Italy, listening it back before being asked about it on talkSPORT.
Alan Brazil said: “You went viral this week. Are you aware of this Gianfranco, after you made this comment while interviewing Jude Bellingham on Channel 4. I’m sorry, but we have to hear this. Gianfranco I have to say it makes me laugh.
The clip hears Zola say: “This 20 years old, I was still drinking milk for my mom. I’m very impressed. Not no, exactly from there.”
Brazil continues: “Gianfranco, I thought your English was very good.
Zola replied: “Yeah, but sometimes I get lost in translation. I didn’t mean exactly that. The real fact is that I’m still very impressed by this young boy.
“Not only the way he behaves on the pitch, but the maturity talking, the composure.
“I tell you something, and you are both men of football, so you know this. There are moments in the game where things are not going on your way, and then the tendency is to go along with that.
“There was one player that wasn’t giving up in that moment and I noticed that, and it was Bellingham, because he created everything from nothing, because, forgive me, Italy was going very well, was controlling the game, he was playing well.
“But Bellingham himself, he created the first goal with an acceleration for the penalty and then the second one, it created another fantastic acceleration and create the second goal.
“So, I mean, I was really impressed and I wanted to make it a strong remark, but I didn’t expect that.”
Another masterclass from Jude Bellingham tonight π₯π¦#C4Football | #ENGITA | #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/fM3xwU8ffU
β Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) October 17, 2023
Speaking after his superb performance, Bellingham added on Channel 4: ‘I am getting a little better each time I play.
‘It was a really good night for us, we all remember what happened a few years ago when they played us here. You always aim for progression. We are heading in the right direction and a very important win for us.
‘I am loving football at the minute. My management at club and country are giving me freedom to play it how I see it.
‘Since the last few months I have been really working on my timing getting into the box and as I am arriving I am arriving with a big hunger.
‘With the big transfer the fact is I have to deliver, whether it is a goal or assist or a match-winning performance.
‘This is the club I want to be at for the next 10 to 15 years of my life. I am loving it there. Carlo basically said this position is where he sees me.’
It could be quite a while before we see Bellingham in the Premier League π¬#C4Football | #ENGITA pic.twitter.com/yMFvhxrqHO
β Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) October 18, 2023
Here’s how fans reacted with Gianfranco Zola in hysterics listening back to his ‘breast milk’ confession to Jude Bellingham…
@Richboyleeds85: Brilliant! Got to love the no filter approach.
@Postecogniac: Interesting confession from Gianfranco Zola that he was still breastfeeding from his mum at age 20. Bizarre but okay. πββοΈ
@MellyMaestro: DYING at Gianfranco Zola fawning over Jude Bellingham and telling him “at 20 years old, I was still drinking the milk from my mother” wtf ππ
@bluewoods25: Love the man… absolute legend…
@linziramma: Jude βnot directly β π€£π€£π€£
@Chelsea_Focus_: Absolutely hilarious π€£
@ryanmilner93: Had a nightmare here zola π€£π€£
@1stEmilyParker: Gianfranco Zola’s sense of humor is spot on! It’s always entertaining to hear about the generational differences in football. π€£β½
@ginadombo: Zola looks a lot like Ben Stiller especially after that joke…π
@jonnyypowell: Thatβs not Zola thatβs Ben Stiller @C4Sport
@RBM2603: Bellingham 100% peed a little
@Bluesbot1975: Gianfranco Zola, “at 20 I was still drinking my mum’s milk” talking to jude Bellingham, had me laughing my ass off π€£π€£π€£
@BallinginSurrey: Legend π€£π
@TobiasGraham8: I love the italians. They’re always so funny π and yes, they don’t speak that good english over there. π
@LFC_Merchant: Top banter there π
@LLawliet126: He what???
@nickling1: Still breastfeeding at 20? A little strange to have not stopped around 16 like normal people.
@HammerE73132426: Corker π€£π€£
@DalyrizOfficial: My legend π
@CFC_Gidi: Zola is a character, lmao. π
20 years old Zola drinking milk from Liverpool ππ€£π pic.twitter.com/ZWiRqzBPrw
β #The Lost soul (@Beekhaybee) October 18, 2023
β Paul Carney (@paul_c55) October 18, 2023
You must be logged in to post a comment Login