- Declan Rice has gained plaudits for a number of stellar recent performances
- England international moved to the Emirates from West Ham in 2023 for £100m
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Rio Ferdinand believes that Declan Rice would have opted to join Manchester United instead of Arsenal if the Red Devils offered the wages he was handed at the Emirates.
The England international has gained plaudits for a number of stellar recent performances, including his displays in Arsenal’s thumping 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The midfielder was awarded with the Player of the Match prize in both legs of the tie as Mikel Arteta‘s men kept hopes of a maiden European Cup triumph alive.
United also enjoyed a memorable midweek, progressing to the last four the Europa League after a remarkable 5-4 comeback win over Lyon. But their exploits in Europe stand in sharp contrast to their miserable league campaign.
Even with his old side sitting in 14th place and on course to record their lowest-ever Premier League points tally, Ferdinand believes that the pull of Old Trafford would have been too difficult for Rice to ignore when making his £100million switch from West Ham, if the Red Devils had matched the wages on offer in north London.
Regaling Rice’s performance against the 15-time European champions, Ferdinand said on his Youtube channel: ‘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”.
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes that Declan Rice would have chosen the Red Devils over Arsenal ‘for the same wages’
The England international has gained plaudits for stellar recent performances against Real Madrid
The Red Devils have endured a miserable league campaign but they still have hopes of qualifying for the Champions League
‘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 chosen Man United.’
Irrespective of the accuracy of the former defender’s assessment, Rice will be delighted to be spearheading a Gunners team with the chance to make history this season.
Disappointment over their failure to challenge for the Premier League has dissipated in recent weeks amid their European campaign. Arsenal take on soon-to-be relegated Ipswich Town on Sunday knowing defeat could allow Liverpool to clinch the title that afternoon.
Attention in north London is now firmly fixed on their semi-final clashes against French champions Paris Saint-Germain on April 29 and May 7.
