Former England captain Wayne Rooney has praised Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, calling him a future England captain after his standout performance against Everton. Rice helped Arsenal return to the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win.
Rooney, who watched the match at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, said Rice showed leadership, intelligence, and energy all over the pitch. The 26-year-old, who has already earned 72 England caps, has captained the national team twice when Harry Kane was absent.
Speaking on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney said Rice’s passing, positioning, and work rate were outstanding. He believes Rice is the natural choice to take over the captaincy from Kane in the future, praising his drive, personality, and influence on teammates. Rooney added that Rice is hugely important and difficult to replace in the England team.
