Declan Rice has showered one of his Arsenal teammates with praise as they are ‘really unique’, ahead of the midfielder leading England out as their captain against Belgium.
The 25-year-old will get the armband when the Three Lions meet the Red Devils at Wembley on Tuesday night. England boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Rice will captain the XI as skipper Harry Kane has an injury. It will also mark the Gunners star’s 50th cap for England.
Rice has become an essential figure in England’s engine room since his debut in March 2019, much like he has with Arsenal. The London native is a pivotal player under boss Mikel Arteta at Emirates Stadium. Tuesday’s friendly is Rice’s 46th game this season from a potential 48.
Declan Rice thinks Arsenal teammate Ben White is ‘really unique’
But while Rice is a vital cog for his club and country, he hopes Arsenal teammate Ben White will reconsider turning down an England call-up. Having played against and now with the 26-year-old at Emirates Stadium, Rice believes White is a ‘really unique’ talent who can be ‘key’.
Rice will even try to persuade White to re-think rejecting Southgate’s advances to represent England at Euro 2024 this summer. The midfielder would love to have the defender join him on their plane to Germany after seeing what a brilliant player White is and what he can add.
“I think the biggest thing is it’s Ben’s life [and] it’s Ben’s decision,” Rice said, via the Mirror. “Obviously, people are going to have opinions, people are going to write stuff about it. But, ultimately, he’s content with his decision… All I can say is that I would love him to be here.
“Playing against him and now playing with him, seeing how he is, he is very quiet [and he] keeps himself to himself. But when he’s on the pitch, he’d do anything for his team to win. I think he’s a really unique player because he can play three positions.
“In tournaments, that’s so key. He can play centre-back, he can play right-back [and] he can play inverted full-back. So, when I get back, I can have a conversation with him and see the ins and outs, and see what he thinks [as] I would love him to come.
“I think Bukayo [Saka] would [and] I think Aaron Ramsdale would. I think we’re all going to be on him when we get back to say [that]. Hopefully, he can change his mind.”
Why has Ben White turned down an England call-up?
Rice has seen what White offers first-hand this term after joining him at Arsenal last July in a transfer from West Ham United. They have since shared the pitch 38 times with the Gunners so far. Rice also played against him six times, including once against Brighton’s U23s in 2017.
But while Rice has grown into a vital player for England since playing White with West Ham’s U21 team, the defender has only received four caps. Southgate has also not named White in an England side since he returned to London Colney early from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
According to The Athletic, White pulled out of the World Cup and has since turned down an England call-up after clashing with assistant coach Steve Holland in Qatar. He had an issue with Holland referencing White’s admission about not liking football to the players and staff.