Arsenal and England star Declan Rice is ‘very overrated’, according to James McClean (Picture: Getty)
James McClean says Declan Rice is ‘very overrated’ and believes the ‘hype’ surrounding the Arsenal midfielder in the English media is completely ‘unjustified’.
Rice, 25, was widely praised as one of the signings of last season in the Premier League last term, playing a key role for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s side pushed Manchester City all the way until the final day of the campaign.
The former West Ham captain is also an established member of England’s starting XI and could be set for a monumental summer at the base of Gareth Southgate’s midfield, with the Three Lions tipped as one of the favourites at Euro 2024.
After playing the full 90 minutes of England’s 1-0 victory over Serbia, Rice is expected to continue his run in the side when Southgate’s men look to make it two wins from two against Denmark this evening.
However, ex-Republic of Ireland international McClean is yet to be fully convinced by Rice and feels the Arsenal star still has some way to go before he can be compared to the likes of Rodri and Toni Kroos.
While on punditry duty for RTE, McClean, who now turns out for League One outfit Wrexham, claimed the adulation Rice receives from English fans and pundits is ‘completely over the top’.
‘I think Declan Rice is very overrated. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a very good footballer but the way the English media wax lyrical about him, I think it’s completely over the top,’ he said.
McClean feels the hype surrounding Rice is ‘unjustified’ (Picture: RTE)
‘For me, he’s not world class. World class to me is someone who gets in every single side in the world and I don’t think he does that.
‘I don’t think he gets in the Manchester City side ahead of Rodri. I don’t think… Kroos is now retired but, to me, Toni Kroos is world class, he dictates the game. Rodri dictates the game. I don’t think Declan Rice does that.
‘He’s not someone who is going to get on the half turn, play passes forward. He’s very good at what he does.’
Rice played alongside McClean for three friendlies with the Republic of Ireland (Picture: Getty)
Asked whether Rice is perhaps a different type of player to Rodri and Kroos, McClean replied: ‘They play the same role so why can’t they do the same things.
‘If you’re going to give him this much hype and reputation then surely he should be able to do what they do, get the ball on the half turn, play passes forward and dictate the play. I don’t think he does that.
‘He’s good at what he does. He sees danger and he puts out fires but for the hype that surrounds him, I don’t think it’s justified.’
The midfielder completed a move from West Ham to Arsenal last summer (Picture: Getty)
Rice chipped in with seven goals and eight assists in his debut …read more
Source:: Metro
