Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice would be wearing a Manchester United shirt now – if the Red Devils had offered him what the Gunners did. That’s the view of Rio Ferdinand, who insists that, all things being equal, the England star would’ve ditched West Ham for Old Trafford, rather than the Emirates.
Rice was the star of the show as Arsenal KO’d European champs Real Madrid from the Champions League in midweek. The 26-year-old dominated proceedings at the Santiago Bernabeu as the Gunners ran out 2-1 winners, having scored twice in the 3-0 first leg win.
His on-field battle with Three Lions team-mate Jude Bellingham had been much anticipated, but Rice came out on top in every aspect, with the kind of display that fully justifies why Arsenal splashed £105million to sign him in 2023.
Then, both Chelsea and United were also keen on landing his signature. And Ferdinand insists the if United had matched Arsenal’s offer, he would have chosen to join the Red Devils.
Speaking about Rice’s performance against Los Blancos, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: “The first tie killed it but they [Arsenal] were magnificent, I thought, over two legs.
“Declan Rice, I think, you know when you look at players and go where was the moment he stood up and said, ‘guys, the top table, I’m at it’. I think this tie says that. Doing against a team of that magnitude, that type of team, that champion.
“And we [Manchester United] didn’t go and sign him. I think, and I will stand by this, if Man United had come to the table with a chequebook and said, ‘we’ll match what Arsenal pay’, I think Declan Rice would have chose Man United.”
Arsenal face Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Sunday with boss Mikel Arteta full of praise for his all-action midfield general.
“He’s learning more and more,’ Arteta said. “I think performances like he had in this side against Real Madrid actually just puts the player in a different dimension and that’s why we brought him here. That’s why we demand him as well to take more steps and to be more decisive in games because he can do it.
“We’ve been talking about it for the last few weeks and to be at this stage is not easy. He’s done it two times in a row.
“Now he’s maintaining that level of consistency, belief and undoubtedly his role will be bigger and bigger.”
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