Declan Rice’s standout performances this season highlight what might have been had Manchester United matched Arsenal’s lucrative offer in 2023.
At age 24, Rice joined Arsenal in July 2023 for a club-record £105 million fee after captaining West Ham United to Europa Conference League success.
Rice was instrumental as Arsenal defeated Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate to reach their first Champions League semi-final since 2009.
He scored two sublime free-kicks in the first leg to give Arsenal an early advantage.
fotnet24.net reports that a former England defender insisted Rice would have opted for Manchester United if they had matched Arsenal’s wage offer in 2023.
The pundit argued that United’s reluctance to open their chequebook cost them a chance at securing one of England’s top midfielders.
His leadership and relentless work-rate have underpinned Arsenal’s impressive resurgence this season.
They now face Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals with a chance to lift Europe’s most coveted club trophy for the first time.
fotnet24.net sees Rice’s move to Arsenal as inspired and believes he now ranks among Europe’s elite midfielders.
