Martin Keown questions if Jude Bellingham is world class, Rio Ferdinand doubles down on Bukayo Saka stance

TNT Sports pundits Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown debated the merits of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka as world class players ahead of Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League clash with Porto.

Bellingham has enjoyed an incredible start to life at Real Madrid, while Saka is integral to Arsenal’s attack as Mikel Arteta’s side bid to end a Premier League drought that is nearing on two decades.

The former made it onto Ferdinand’s list of players who can currently be considered world class, something that drew raised eyebrows from Keown.

“I think it's easier when you put a list together,” Ferdinand said. “I was talking to Owen Hargreaves about it and when you put list down it becomes easier for me.

“There you see the guys there: Edison, Allison [Becker], Kyle Walker, Virgil van Dijk, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and the list goes on. You can see there for yourself. Do you [Keown] disagree with any of them?”

In response, Keown hinted that Ferdinand’s omission of Saka was done to rile up Arsenal fans.

“Well, I think Bellingham is one that I would question,” Keown, a former Arsenal defender, said. “Of course he is in amazing form for Real Madrid right now but we look at Saka.

“Saka has been the England player of the year the last two years and Bellingham has not got a look in on that and he's still on Rio's list so I don't know, maybe Rio has been a bit mischievous.”

One thing both could agree on was that both Bellingham and Saka, who are 20 and 22 respectively, have got the potential to reach an elite level that places them among the best in the world.

“They've actually got that list a little bit wrong because Bellingham was on it just below that on his own,” Ferdinand added. “He’s edging in there but I think the thing that maybe means he isn’t on that list right now is just time.

“I think he’s in world class form but I think you just need that time and that’s why I say Saka. Saka has got that world class potential but he just hasn't been exposed to the knockout stages of the Champions League and the longevity is the difference.

“All the other players on that list because see, they’ve played in the top, prestigious games and they produce in those moments or they've done ridiculous things over a long period of time.”

Ally McCoist also weighed into the debate, agreeing with the assessment made by Ferdinand and Keown.

“One of the key factors to being world class is obviously brilliance, winning trophies, an accumulation of a few things, but for me, the key thing is longevity,” the Scotsman said.

“Guys are capable in their career of having world class moments for periods but one of the key factors for me is longevity and if I’m being brutally honest, I think Saka and Bellingham are absolutely capable of world class moments but would you describe them as world class?

“Hopefully at the end of their careers.”

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