Rio Ferdinand insists Declan Rice would have chosen Manchester United over Arsenal if the Red Devils had matched the Gunners' offer.
The £105million midfielder showcased his elite status during Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final victory over Real Madrid. Rice was a standout performer in both legs against the 15-time European champions.
His remarkable free-kick brace in the first leg and dominant second-leg performance were instrumental in Mikel Arteta's team securing a 5-1 aggregate win. Ferdinand lavished praise on the England international following the encounter.
However, he also voiced his disappointment at United's reluctance to meet the asking price in the summer of 2023. Despite suggestions that Rice preferred to stay in London, Ferdinand believes he would have opted for United had they presented a competitive offer.
"Declan Rice, you know when you look at players and go there was the moment he stood up and said, 'Guys, the top table, I'm at it'," said the former West Ham defender on his YouTube show.
"I think this tie says that. Doing against a team of that magnitude, that type of team, that champion. And we (United) didn't go and sign him!
"I think, and I will stand by this, if Man United had come to the table with a chequebook and said, 'we'll match what Arsenal pay', I think Declan Rice would have chosen Man United."
Back in 2021, it was reported that Rice had asked United's England players about the club while on international duty. But United's loss has been the Gunners' gain as Rice has taken his game to new levels under Arteta.
Rice insisted Arsenal are intent on winning the Champions League after the famous win over Real, with PSG next in their way. He told TNT Sports: “It’s such a special and historic night for this club.
"We want to win this competition. There was a lot of talk coming here about them coming back because they’ve done it so many times before.
"But we had so much belief and confidence from the first leg that we had enough to come here and win the game.”
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