Declan Rice, the Arsenal star and pivotal figure for England at Euro 2024, has responded to criticism from his former Republic of Ireland teammate, James McClean, reported by GOAL. McClean, now playing for Wrexham, recently called Rice “overrated,” sparking a wave of reactions from fans and pundits alike.

Declan Rice has become a central figure in the Premier League, valued at £100 million ($127m), and is now a key player for the Three Lions at Euro 2024. His journey to stardom began with three caps for the Republic of Ireland in friendly matches before he switched his international allegiance to England in 2019.

The criticism to Declan Rice

James McClean, currently with Wrexham and known for his outspoken nature, did not hold back during a European Championship punditry role with RTE. “I think Declan Rice is very overrated,” McClean stated. “Don't get me wrong, he's a very good footballer, but the way the English media talks about him, I think it's completely over the top. For me, he's not world-class. World-class to me is someone who gets in every single side in the world, and 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.”

McClean continued his critique, emphasizing that Rice's style of play doesn't justify his high valuation. “For a hundred million-pound player, I want to see more than just five-yard sideways and backwards passes. He attempted one forward pass in the half and it went straight into the keeper’s hands. I want to see him do more, break lines.”

Rice’s response

Declan Rice, who has earned 53 caps for England, took a composed approach to McClean's comments. “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,” Rice remarked. “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. I played with James for Ireland for three games and got on with him really well. I am not going to sit here and slag him off. When I left Ireland to come to England, I heard a few things he was obviously not happy about.”

Rice further added, “He made comments a few years ago. 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.”

Proving critics wrong at Euro 2024

As England prepares to face Slovenia in their final Group C fixture at Euro 2024, Rice will be eager to showcase his abilities and silence his critics. Despite entering the tournament as pre-tournament favorites, Gareth Southgate’s side has yet to hit their stride, and Rice's performance could be crucial in igniting their campaign.

The exchange between Rice and McClean highlights the intense scrutiny top players face, especially when significant sums are involved. While McClean’s comments have stirred debate, Rice’s measured response reflects his maturity and focus on his game. As the tournament progresses, fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see if Rice can deliver the performances expected of a player of his caliber.