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The fact that West Ham United almost parted ways with Declan Rice has surprised Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
Indeed, Rice is now one of the world’s leading midfielders and looks set to win his first trophy since leaving West Ham United for Arsenal in 2023.
How does Mateus Fernandes compare to a young Declan Rice? 🇵🇹
What can he still IMPROVE upon?
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Now, Rice was a fantastic player for West Ham and led them to the Conference League final only a few weeks before leaving for north London.
Still, things could all have played out so differently – and Henry was surprised to hear it.
Rice says West Ham almost released him at 16
The England midfielder recently sat down with the Gunners legend for an interview that was posted on Arsenal’s official website.
During the discussion, he said: “My journey was crazy. I started off at Chelsea, and then I was released there at 14. I went to West Ham, and that story is even crazier because West Ham were going to release me, and no one knows about that.”
To which Henry replied: “Really?!”
Be honest – give us your initial grading and your current one 😂
For context, I was a C and now I am an A
Credit: Getty Images/Izzy Poles – AMA/Rob Newell – CameraSport/Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto
Rice then added: “Yeah, West Ham were going to, at 16, there were question marks over that, there was a final decision, I played in a game and I played really well and they gave me my scholarship.”
It’s clear that Rice did not have it easy on his way to the top, which speaks to the character of the player.
That early rejection from Chelsea and the fact it wasn’t plain sailing for him here in east London is a reminder that progress is not always linear.
Chelsea must be gutted they let him slip through their fingers and their loss is very much West Ham’s gain.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty ImagesRice’s journey at West Ham is inspirational
West Ham are a club famed for their academy, and the production line shows little sign of slowing amid a successful season at U18 and U21 level.
Rice was always a talented player at West Ham but that only goes so far.
Young players in the game have to react to setbacks, and it would be fair to say that he’s done that throughout his career.
That should inspire those currently within the academy. Some of those players could feasibly go on to have the kind of career that Rice is currently enjoying.
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