Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand wishes his former club had signed Declan Rice before Arsenal did.
Arsenal paid a club-record £105 million to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United in the recent summer transfer window.
As far as many Arsenal fans are concerned, Rice is already living up to his enormous price tag.
There was certainly competition for the 24-year-old’s signature in the summer, too. Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City had a £90 million offer rejected by the Hammers, prior to the Gunners getting a deal over the line.
Mikel Arteta will certainly be delighted to have the England man at the Emirates Stadium. Rice has already established himself as an integral figure for the north London club. He brings power, dynamism, and personality to the middle of the park, and is a natural leader. The Spanish coach has even tipped him to be a future captain for the club.
Rice was once again a hero for Arsenal on Tuesday evening. The Gunners looked destined to drop points against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road as the final seconds of injury time ticked away with the score level at 3-3. With the club’s final forward gambit, Martin Odegaard swung a ball into the box and Rice was able to divert it into the back of the net.
This goal extended Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table, and was yet another example of Arteta’s side snatching a victory in the dying moments of a match. The celebrations were understandably riotous, as Rice was serenaded by his teammates in the dressing room after full time.
Rio Ferdinand expresses Declan Rice regret
Rio Ferdinand has now expressed his regret that Manchester United were unable to sign Rice themselves. Speaking on his FIVE YouTube platform, he said, “Declan Rice, I said it before Man Utd he was the player I would’ve 100% gone and got.”
“You could argue there’s midfielders with more ability than him but I would argue that it’s only Jude Bellingham that comes near him in terms of being able to get into a dressing room and trying to get control of that dressing room and get the respect of that dressing room on day two, three, four, straight away.”
“Not only with performances and standards and helping with the culture and the environment but the attitude and the like-ability factor, the respect factor that he would get straight away. That’s why I thought he more than anybody it was important that Man United should’ve gone and got and they allowed Arsenal to go and get him.”
Arsenal harbour one of England’s great hopes
Rice, like Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, is one of England’s key players. Assuming they are both fit by the time the tournament rolls around, they will be surely be nailed-on starters in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions side at EURO 2024.
That pair represent the long-term future of the England midfield and could go on to prove themselves to be amongst the finest players of their generation.
At club level, Rice just needs to ensure he remains fit and in form for the rest of the season as his importance to Arsenal can hardly be overstated.
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