West Ham drew 0-0 with Aston Villa last night.
It was a fairly drab display on the whole from both sides, but one player really stood out.
Declan Rice, who earns £40,000 per week according to the Times, was immaculate from the very first whistle up until the last.
The 20-year-old Hammers ace oozed class. He broke up Villa’s play in the final third with ease and and his composure in possession really was impressive.
Rice’s passing was also faultless, with a superb 96.3% pass completion rate to his name.
The West Ham starlet is a truly top class player, and he will undoubtedly go on to become an elite star over the next decade or so, for both club and country.
The deep-lying midfielder received criticism for his displays for England over the past fortnight, however.
And after last night’s performance, those critics will now surely be eating humble pie.
He is still so young, and will undoubtedly make mistakes along the way. Fans and pundits alike need to be patient with Rice, and appreciate him for what he is – a truly exceptional young talent.
One thing is for sure, West Ham are a better side when the 20-year-old is playing. And if he continues to progress, that will surely be the case for England too in the very near future.
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