John Terry played a large part in convincing Declan Rice to switch international to represent England, according to The Sun.
Despite having played for the Republic of Ireland three times in international friendlies, the 20-year-old Hammers midfielder announced on Wednesday via his personal Twitter account that he had chosen to commit his future to the Three Lions.
According to The Sun, ex-England captain Terry was big influence on Rice’s decision.
The pair have been on regular contact since Rice was released by Terry’s former club Chelsea as a 14-year-old, and have formed an increasingly strong friendship.
It is understood that Terry made it clear to the youngster that Gareth Southgate’s side would be the best long term option for his future.
OPINION
If Terry was a deciding factor in Rice committing his future to England, then the whole country owes him one big time. The West Ham youngster has the potential to be one of the finest holding midfielders in European football, and could become a crucial component in Gareth Southgate’s burgeoning squad of bright young things. Finding a player capable of sitting in front of the back four and tidying things up with a good eye for a forward pass can be a vital part of any country’s ambitions of lifting silverware, and Rice has all the promise to be exactly that figure. It can’t have been an easy decision for the midfielder to switch allegiances, especially knowing the raft of flak he was likely to take for it, but ultimately, in the long run, this could prove to be a far more profitable personal move for him. Obviously the most important thing is for the player to feel as if he is playing for the country that best fits his personal sense of identity, but in this case, him choosing England could be a massively mutually beneficial decision.
