“I will stand by this”: Rio Ferdinand says Declan Rice would have picked Man United ahead of Arsenal | OneFootball

Rio Ferdinand has suggested that Declan Rice would have chosen Manchester United over Arsenal if the opportunity to move to Old Trafford had been available.

United were strongly linked to Rice while he was at West Ham but they never made a strong effort to sign him, clearing a path for Arsenal to swoop in and secure his signature in the summer of 2023.

Only Manchester City made a late attempt to hijack the deal, but by then, it was too late to stop him from signing for the Gunners. Arsenal paid £100m for Rice.

The England international has enjoyed a steady rise under Mikel Arteta, the crowning moment of which was his performance in both legs of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid. Rice was stupendous in both games, scoring two unbelievable free kicks in the first game at the Emirates.

Speaking on his YouTube channel [as quoted by Football365], United legend Rio Ferdinand was full of praise for Rice.

Ferdinand went on to claim that had United made the 26-year-old an offer, he would have picked them ahead of Arsenal.

“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.”

Ferdinand added, “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.”

While Rice is now almost certainly out of reach for United, the Red Devils are believed to be eyeing midfield reinforcements ahead of the summer transfer window.

Ruben Amorim’s side continue to be linked to the likes of Ederson (Atalanta), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) and Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland), just to mention a few names.

Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images

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