Patrice Evra always knew that Declan Rice had a bright future, even when the now-Arsenal colossus was still a wide-eyed teenager with a buzzcut haircut starting out as a centre-back in the claret and blue of West Ham United.
Not necessarily because his technical qualities shone through at such a young age.
But because he had the ‘humility’, the personality and the insatiable appetite to reach the levels he now performs at, both for England and for Champions League semi-finalists and perennial Premier League challengers Arsenal.
He was still a teenager during Patrice Evra’s brief spell at West Ham United in 2018. Yet, Evra always knew Declan Rice had something special.
Now, the legendary former Manchester United left-back is not bold enough to claim that he knew this was a £105 million footballer in the making. Evra did not envisage Rice curling not one but two sublime free-kicks into the Real Madrid net seven years down the line.
What he did spot, however, was a youngster with the desire and the capacity to learn, develop his talents and make the most of his potential.
Patrice Evra knew former West Ham teammate Declan Rice was special
Rice was on the pitch for all of Evra’s five West Ham appearances during the 2017/18 season. He even lined up alongside the Champions League winner in The Hammers’ back five on occasions.
Rice, in those days, was a centre-half or a defensive midfielder, rather than the all-action, ball-carrying, ground-eating marathon man he would later develop into.
“I loved Declan. Yes, [ I knew he would be this good]. Do you know why? Because of his humility,” Evra recalls.
“He had to improve a lot in his game. Too many touches. But he always had the engine, and I remember one day Declan came to me and said; ‘Thank you so much. Every time you speak, all your worth, I’m absorbing it. Please tell me if you see me doing the wrong thing’.
“He was so humble and he’s such a nice person but a hard worker. He actually enjoyed that [work].
So, Declan, I’m not surprised [how far he has come].”
Evra says Rice is ‘even better’ now after Champions League heroics for Arsenal
Rice is still the most expensive British footballer in history. Yet, he is justifying that price-tag year on year as he adds a goalscoring streak to his game these days. Is there a more complete, well-rounded midfielder in the Premier League right now?
Rice was not a complete rarity on the scoreboard at West Ham. One stomping solo goal in the Europa League against Gent under David Moyes was a sign of things to come. But hitting the back of the net eight times across 2024/25, this is now the most prolific campaign of his career.
The next step? Double figures.
“Now, I think he is even better because he is clinical, he is scoring more goals,” adds Evra, who also represented Monaco, Marseille and Juventus in an outstanding career.
Evra does feel, however, that Rice is still sometimes guilty of trying a little too hard, such as when he charged out of position in the build-up to Ousmane Dembele’s goal during PSG’s 1-0 Champions League semi-final triumph over Arsenal.
But trying too hard? If that is the biggest weakness in his game, he’s doing something right.
“He is really generous,” adds Evra, while indicating that former boss Moyes knew where Rice’s future lay all along. “I think sometimes needs to save his energy. You see the game against PSG, when he came back to do that tackle. He should not have done that. For me, he is still losing too much energy.
“[But] David Moyes always wanted him to play more forward. He is not always a defensive midfielder. Unfortunately, he is playing for the wrong team [in Arsenal]!”
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