Arsenal fans have hit back at Rio Ferdinand over his “deluded” comments about Declan Rice following the midfielder’s standout performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Rice starred as Arsenal cruised past Madrid 5-1 on aggregate to secure a place in the semi-finals, earning widespread praise for his dominant display at the Bernabeu. Many fans and pundits hailed it as a defining moment in his career, cementing his place among the game’s elite.
However, pundit Richard Keys disagreed, dismissing Rice’s impact as a “daft” error that worked out in his favor, calling him “lucky.”
Rice joined Arsenal in a club-record £105 million deal in 2023, turning down interest from several top clubs. Manchester City had a bid rejected, and Manchester United were also reportedly keen.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand claimed that Rice would have chosen United if they had matched Arsenal’s financial offer, stating:
> “Declan Rice, I think this tie showed he’s arrived at the top level. Doing that against a team of Real Madrid’s calibre is huge. But we [Man United] didn’t go and sign him… I believe if United had matched Arsenal’s offer, he would’ve picked United.”
Arsenal supporters were quick to reject Ferdinand’s theory. One fan posted: “What a load of rubbish. Rice literally turned down City because Arteta convinced him of the project.” Another added: “If Rice said no to City, why would he go to United?” A third simply said: “Don’t be delusional, mate.”
Since joining Arsenal, Rice has been vital in their push for the Premier League title and is now leading the charge in Europe. While he’s yet to win a major trophy, the Gunners remain in contention, with a Champions League semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain up next.
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