England international Declan Rice name-dropped former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba when asked to choose his toughest Premier League opponents.
Rice, 23, has emerged as one of the hottest properties in Europe over the last 18 months and plays a crucial role in the national team alongside Manchester City signing Kalvin Phillips. However, his own move to Manchester did not materialise this summer window.
Currently with West Ham, former Chelsea graduate Rice was earmarked as a priority target for United before they appointed Erik ten Hag as manager. Ten Hag switched focus to Barcelona playmaker Frenkie de Jong amid ongoing fears the Hammers will dig their heels in over a valuation for Rice if he eventually is made available.
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He will stay put at the London Stadium this summer but, had things turned out differently, he may have been able to call Pogba his teammate. As it turned out, the World Cup winner opted to depart Old Trafford on a free transfer, for the second time, to move back to Serie A with Juventus.
Rice guested on the Tubes & Ange Golf Life series on YouTube and was pressed about his toughest opponents. He said: "I get asked this question so much and people tag me in stuff saying your answer last time was that [and now] it is that...
"There are so many and I can't even describe it. [Kevin] De Bruyne's special with the way he thinks about the game, the position he picks up for a holding midfielder is horrible and he makes you think. Same with David Silva when he was in the Premier League. You couldn't get near him."
Rice added: "I don't know if anyone has hit me with a proper hard tackle. You know who was tough...
"I'm not too sure on a specific player, but you come up against players and I remember running into Paul Pogba for my second ever Premier League game and it was like hitting a brick wall. I ran in for a 50-50 with him and it was like oh my god."
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