Former Manchester United player, Rio Ferdinand, has made a bold claim about one of Arsenal's star players. According to him, Declan Rice would have rejected Arsenal if Manchester United had offered the same salary.
Rice delivered another impressive performance at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield to help eliminate Real Madrid from the Champions League this week. The 26-year-old has established himself as one of Arsenal’s key figures under Mikel Arteta.
Ferdinand believes that Rice should now be considered among the world’s best midfielders due to his consistent performances and significant contributions to his team. Rice joined Arsenal in a £105 million deal from West Ham in 2023 but had also attracted strong interest from both United and Chelsea. This transfer was a major talking point at that time due to its high value and the potential impact it could have on all teams involved.
Ferdinand's perspective on Rice's decision
Ferdinand feels that Declan Rice would have opted to join United two years ago if his former club matched Arsenal’s offer. He expressed these views while speaking about Rice’s performance against Madrid on his YouTube channel.
Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United legend, said:
‘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.’
This statement implies that according to Ferdinand, Manchester United missed out on acquiring an exceptional talent due their inability or unwillingness to match the financial package offered by their rivals, which is something they might regret given how well he has performed for Arsenal since then. Rio Ferdinand's comments provide an interesting insight into player transfers and how decisions are often influenced by financial considerations as much as sporting ones. It also highlights how clubs like Manchester United may need to reassess their recruitment strategies if they want to attract top talents like Declan Rice in future.
