Rio Ferdinand claims Arsenal star 'would have joined Man Utd for the same wages' (2025)

Rio Ferdinand believes Declan Rice would have rejected Arsenal if Manchester United had offered the same salary.

Rice delivered another impressive performance at the heart of Arsenal’s midfield to help eliminate Real Madrid from the Champions League this week.

The 26-year-old has established himself as one of Arsenal’s key figures under Mikel Arteta, with Ferdinand claiming that the England international should now be considered among the world’s best midfielders.

Rice joined Arsenal in a £105 million deal from West Ham in 2023 but had also attracted strong interest from both United and Chelsea.

And Ferdinand feels that Rice would have opted to join United two years ago if his former club matched Arsenal’s offer.

Speaking about Rice’s performance against Madrid, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ‘The first tie killed it but they [Arsenal] were magnificent, I thought, over two legs.

‘Declan Rice, I think, you know when you look at players and go where was the moment he stood up and said, ‘guys, the top table, I’m at it’. I think this tie says that.

‘Doing against a team of that magnitude, that type of team, that champion.

‘And we [Manchester 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 chose Man United.’

Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Ipswich Town on Sunday, Arteta believes Rice is now in a ‘different dimension’ following his two performances against Madrid.

‘He’s learning more and more,’ Arteta said.

‘I think performances like he had in this side against Real Madrid actually just puts the player in a different dimension and that’s why we brought him here. That’s why we demand him as well to take more steps and to be more decisive in games because he can do it.

‘We’ve been talking about it for the last few weeks and to be at this stage is not easy. He’s done it two times in a row.

‘Now he’s maintaining that level of consistency, belief and undoubtedly his role will be bigger and bigger.’

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