David Gold hopes Declan Rice will captain England in the future.
The West Ham chairman says Rice was “born in England, made in West Ham”, and wants the Hammers star to follow in the footsteps of Bobby Moore.
There has been intense speculation over Rice’s international future in recent days, and the 19-year-old has been left out of the provisional Republic of Ireland squad to face Wales and Poland.
My hope all a long has been that Declan first becomes an England player and then follows in the footsteps of the great Bobby Moore by becoming the captain of England.
Born in England made in West Ham United. dg https://t.co/Yx8auOlcSF
— David Gold (@davidgold) August 27, 2018
Yesterday, Martin O’Neill admitted that Rice is weighing up his international future.
“He is still deliberating,” the Irish manager revealed.
“He is a young man. England have spoken to him. He is taking time to make his mind up. He has done brilliantly for us. I’m giving him a little bit of time.”
Gold has previously stated his hope that Rice will represent England, and has high hopes for the teenager.
“I’m looking forward to the new manager turning Declan Rice into a strong England defender for the future of the England team,†he said after Manuel Pellegrini’s appointment.