During his recent appearance on talkSPORT’s UEFA Champions League semi-finals coverage, ex-Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent shared a bold opinion, expressing his preference for Arsenal’s Declan Rice over Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe.
While Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal from West Ham United for a whopping £105 million initially raised eyebrows, his exceptional performances on the field have since silenced his critics. Rice has seamlessly integrated into the team’s midfield alongside captain Martin Odegaard, featuring prominently in 49 matches this season.
Aside from his defensive skills, Rice has also showcased impressive creativity and goal-scoring abilities, amassing seven goals and 10 assists. His contributions have been pivotal in Arsenal keeping 17 clean sheets throughout the season.
When confronted with a hypothetical scenario of choosing between Rice and Mbappe, Bent firmly dismissed the idea, stating emphatically, “No, absolutely not.”