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Declan Rice: Gary Neville explains why United should have signed Arsenal leader
TL;DR
Gary Neville criticizes Manchester United for not signing Declan Rice, who recently joined Arsenal for a club-record £105 million. Neville believes Rice would have addressed United's midfield weaknesses.
Key points
- Gary Neville criticizes Manchester United's failure to sign Declan Rice
- Declan Rice joined Arsenal for a club-record £105 million
- Rice was linked with Manchester United for years
- Neville believes Rice would have solved midfield issues at United
Mentioned in this story
Gary NevilleDeclan RiceArsenalManchester UnitedWest Ham UnitedChelsea
Declan Rice: Gary Neville explains why United should have signed Arsenal leader
Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes his former club made a huge mistake by failing to sign Declan Rice. The English midfielder spent a significant portion of his formative years at Chelsea, but it was at West Ham United that he found his true calling.
Rice joined the Hammers’ academy in 2013 and broke into the senior side two years later. After eight seasons at the London Stadium, the 27 year old was signed by Arsenal in a club-record £105 million deal.
United were also linked with the Englishman for years, especially since their midfield was a weak point in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Rice was one of the rising stars in the Premier League and would have solved a lot of issues at Old Trafford, but it was the Gunners who beat the competition to his signature.
Neville believes that his former club have lived to regret the decision not to sign Rice.
Neville rues decision not to sign duo
Speaking on The Overlap, Neville revealed that he was devastated when Rice moved to the Emirates. He said: “No, no. Right, hear me out. I do think Declan Rice is someone… when he went to Arsenal for £100m, I was gutted.”
The former United skipper went on to claim that his former club would have signed both and Rice back in the day, adding: “I think he’s a Manchester United player. He’s the player, Harry Kane, Declan Rice, that Manchester United would have always signed back in the day. You don’t let Declan Rice go to any other club.”
Q&A
Why did Gary Neville say Manchester United should have signed Declan Rice?
Gary Neville believes United missed a significant opportunity to strengthen their midfield by not signing Declan Rice, who has proven himself as a top player.
How much did Arsenal pay for Declan Rice?
Arsenal signed Declan Rice for a club-record fee of £105 million.
What teams were linked to Declan Rice before his transfer to Arsenal?
Before joining Arsenal, Declan Rice was frequently linked with Manchester United, among other clubs.
What impact could Declan Rice have had on Manchester United's midfield?
Declan Rice could have addressed Manchester United's longstanding midfield weaknesses, particularly in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
