England and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has responded to his former Ireland international teammate James McClean’s criticisms of him.
Sports Buddy recently reported that McClean said Rice is not ‘worldclass’, labelling him ‘overrated’ as he feels the Arsenal midfielder does not live up to the hype he receives.
He doubled down on his assessment of Rice once again, following England’s 1-1 draw against Denmark in Euro 2024, saying that people had “got their knickers in a twist” over his earlier remarks and that he expected more from a £100 million player than backwards and sideways passes.
What Declan Rice said
Rice has now responded to McClean’s criticism claiming that the 35-year-old Irish midfielder’s opinion of him might stem from resentment against him for choosing not to represent the Republic of Ireland.
”Do you know what? I played with James for Ireland for three games and I got on with him really well, he said, as per Daily Mail.
He continued,”I am not going to sit here and slag him off. I thought he was a really top guy. When I left Ireland to come to England, I heard a few things he was obviously not happy about. He made comments a few years ago.
”It is what it is. I am not going to sit here and say anything about him. He’s had a great career himself – I think he is coming to the end of his career now and he’s got over a hundred caps for Ireland.
”It might be a bit of bitterness towards me not playing for Ireland but I’ve not got a bad word to say about him, to be honest. I see the comments but I don’t try to put too much energy into it.
”It is what it is and you move on. You live and learn.”
