Declan Rice has labelled Thiago Alcantara as a ‘proper’ player and shared that the Liverpool midfielder is one of his toughest opponents, as he told Tube and Ange’s Golf Life.
The West Ham United midfielder added that Thiago is a ‘silky’ player and an individual who plays the game ‘at his own pace’ when in Liverpool colours.
When making a Premier League dream XI, it could be argued that Thiago and Rice would be big shouts for possible selection because they are two of the best in the business.
Thiago arrived from Bayern Munich in 2020 with a big reputation on his shoulders, and as a Champions League winner, and now he is showing English football what he is all about.
Nonetheless, this is what West Ham’s £150 million-rated man (The Athletic) had to say about Thiago when asked to name some of his toughest opponents.
“Even when I played against Thiago Alcantara from Liverpool last season,” said Rice. “He is just so silky. He plays the game at his own pace. He was proper.”
RICE AND THIAGO SOME OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE’S BEST
Whilst Thiago has been bigged up by Rice, the player himself can put his name alongside some of the Premier League’s best midfielders.
At 23-years-old, he is improving like a bullet train heading to its next destination and added with being named captain this season at the London Stadium after Mark Noble’s retirement, he will only grow as a footballer.
With the England international in the middle of the park, it increases West Ham’s chances of, not just winning a trophy next season, but securing a top-six finish.
David Moyes watched Manchester United beat his team to that sixth spot on the final day of last season, but the Hammers are making moves in the transfer market in order to change that ahead of the forthcoming campaign.
One thing is for sure, this is one of West Ham’s best chances of securing silverware and the Europa Conference League is more than a realistic target for the club.
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