James McClean had claimed that Declan Rice was ‘overrated’ and ‘not world class’.
McClean and Rice had were teammates with Ireland before the Arsenal star made the switch to England.
McClean gave his assessment on Rice while on punditry duty for RTE Sports and gave a pretty scathing assessment on the England man.
MORE HERE: 🚨 Sam Allardyce mocks James McClean with brutal response to Declan Rice comments
He explained: “I think Declan Rice is very overrated. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a very good footballer, but the way the English media wax lyrical about him is completely over the top.
“For me, he’s not world class. To me world class is someone who gets in every side in the world. I don’t think he does that.
“I don’t think he gets in the Man City side ahead of Rodri. I know Toni Kroos is now retiring, but to me Toni Kroos is world class. [Kroos] dictates the game, Rodri dictates the game, I don’t think Rice does that.”
"I think Declan Rice is very overrated" – James McClean does not believe the hype around England's midfielder is justified #EURO2024 #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/CGIoXBWWmD
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 19, 2024
McClean continued: “He’s not someone who is going get on the half turn and play passes forward. He is very good at what he does.
Ahead of England’s final Euro 2024 group game against Slovenia, Rice was asked about McClean’s comments and gave a classy response.
He said: “Do you know what? I played with James for Ireland for three games and I got on with him really well.”
“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 would be easy for me to sit here and say something back to him but, like I said, we are at opposite ends of our careers now – he’s 35 and I’m 25.
“I’ve known him, I’ve played with him, he’s entitled to his opinion and I’ve had to fight a load of those opinions from other people before.”
Rice concluded: “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.”
Is Declan Rice overrated? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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