James McClean has harshly criticized Arsenal and England star Declan Rice, labeling him as “very overrated” and “not world class.” Despite Rice’s significant contributions to both his club and national teams, McClean remains unconvinced of his former teammate’s abilities.
Rice, who joined Arsenal for a record £105 million, made an immediate impact, helping the Gunners to a close second-place finish in the Premier League last season. His stellar performances followed an impressive eight-year stint with West Ham, and he has firmly established himself in the England squad, earning 52 caps since switching allegiance from the Republic of Ireland in 2019.
However, McClean, who played alongside Rice for Ireland in 2018, expressed his doubts during an interview on RTE Sport. “I think Declan Rice is very overrated,” McClean stated. “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.”
McClean elaborated by comparing Rice to other midfielders. “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. To me, Toni Kroos is world class. He dictates the game, Rodri dictates the game. I don’t think Declan Rice does that. He’s very good at what he does, but he doesn’t dominate games like they do.”
McClean further criticized Rice, questioning his ability to perform at the same level as his highly-regarded peers. “They play the same role, so why can’t they do the same things? If you’re going to give him this much hype and reputation, surely he should-be able to do what they do. He sees danger and puts out fires, but for the hype that surrounds him, I don’t think it’s justified.”
In contrast to McClean’s view, former West Ham manager David Moyes praised Rice, highlighting his defensive capabilities. Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Moyes said, “We conceded more goals this year because Dec could have tidied up. And I’m saying that he would have tidied up another 20% of them, you know? When you do that, that changes results, it changes defeats into draws and different things.”
As Rice prepares to add to his growing collection of England caps in the upcoming Euro 2024 group game against Denmark, he remains a crucial part of Gareth Southgate’s plans. Despite the criticism from McClean, Rice’s performances continue to earn him a place in the starting lineup, aiming for his 53rd cap for the Three Lions.
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