“I said to him, ‘I’m looking to build a team around him from March onwards. Are England?'”
Declan Rice looks set to be a top-class Premier League and international player over the next decade.
He doesn’t turn 20 until Monday, but the West Ham United midfielder appears to have the potential to reach the very top of the game.
Whether he will do so representing England or the Republic of Ireland remains to be seen.
“So, he'll play a lot of games for England, won't he?!” https://t.co/2Vw5nkDJjX
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 13, 2019
Both countries want Rice to pledge his international allegiance and both managers have made their pitches to him.
New Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, along with his assistant coach Robbie Keane, had a meeting with Rice and his family in December, while the West Ham star has also met with England manager Gareth Southgate.
While both coaches see Rice in their plans going forward, particularly McCarthy, it appears that they have contrasting views on the player’s best position.
Match of the Day’s analysis of Declan Rice’s performance shows why Ireland badly need him
According to the Ireland manager, he hopes to play Rice in central midfield – the position he has played in for West Ham.
However, McCarthy claims that Southgate sees the player’s international future in central defence.
“I spoke to Gareth and he saw him as a centre-back,” McCarthy said at the Soccer Writers of Ireland awards on Friday night.
“I want him playing in the position he is now at West Ham, for now, and see where he develops.”
“I thought because he’s not playing there at the moment, he wouldn’t be in there (the England squad) in front of the ones already in there.
“Plus, he’s not been in their youth system and come through like he was with ours, and Gareth Southgate was running theirs for a long time.
“I think he saw himself initially as a centre-half but then he is enjoying midfield.
McCarthy also spoke about his conversation with Rice and said he expects the player to make a decision soon.
“I said to him, ‘I’m looking to build a team around him from March onwards. Are England?’
“I’d like a decision at some stage. December’s gone, we’re into January, it will come around pretty quick.
“But there’s no worries with him. It’s not like we have to change him over from one to the other. I thought it was positive (his meeting with Rice).
“He was more concerned at the time with getting his contract sorted out. That was a big issue.”
Rice won the man of the match award and scored his first professional goal on Saturday, finding the net with a sweet strike against Arsenal during West Ham’s win at the London Stadium.
The goal capped a brilliant spell for the youngster. In the past few months, Rice has become an integral part of the West Ham team, signed a new contract and won praise for his performances.
