Jude Bellingham details 'awkward' first meeting with Man City star Jack Grealish

England sensation Jude Bellingham has detailed his first meeting with Jack Grealish and how the Manchester City playmaker helped calm his nerves about a potentially 'awkward' situation.

Bellingham and Grealish are more likely to lock horns in the Champions League these days — with Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund and City respectively — but they will always be divided in terms of their hometown allegiances. Born and raised in the Birmingham area, one is blue and the other claret and blue.

City had to splash out nine-figures to prize £100million man Grealish away from his beloved Aston Villa last summer and Bellingham — who progressed through the Birmingham City academy — continues to forge his glowing reputation as one of the hottest properties in Europe. Both are key members of the England squad and played at Euro 2020.

READ MORE: City 'reject' Delap bid and more rumours

Grealish made his international debut in September 2020 and, two months later, he was joined in the Three Lions ranks by a fresh-faced Bellingham, who had been fast-tracked into the senior squad. However, there was to be no cross-Birmingham animosity between the hugely-talented duo.

During his latest appearance on the BVB podcast, Bellingham said: "Honesty, I thought it would be a bit awkward the first time I went into the England team. I remember being behind him in the lunch queue I was thinking; 'I hope this isn't awkward'.

"We've both got no reason to dislike each other. I've never played against him.

"The first thing he did was like; 'You alright?' blah, blah, blah and he gave me a big hug saying welcome to the team and I sat with him on the table. He was talking to me and it's hard to dislike him and he's a really nice guy regardless of whether