McClean hits out at Rice

Republic of Ireland international James McClean has hit out at former teammate Declan Rice for switching allegiances.

The West Ham midfielder had played three times for Ireland before making the decision to commit his future to England, and McClean has questioned the 20-year-old’s sincerity.

Speaking to RTE, as quoted by Sky Sports News, he said: “He said he was a proud Irishman. Then he said he was a proud Englishman.

“If he’s both… good luck to him but I don’t buy it. I think you’re either one or the other.

“It’s not just Declan, it’s anyone else. If you’re not proud to be here and we’re a stepping stone, then sod off and play for someone else.

OPINION

McClean isn’t one for mincing his words, and he has given a typically blunt reaction to Rice’s situation. At the end of the day, only Rice will know for definite why he chose to switch allegiances to represent England, and as angry as it might make some people, he hasn’t done anything wrong. If he is eligible and wants to play for the Three Lions then so be it. Identity and national pride are difficult things to quantify, and while it may seem clear cut for McClean, it probably isn’t so much for Rice. McClean talks about being born and raised in Ireland, and how that makes him Irish, but by his own logic, Rice, who was born in London, has more right to feel English anyway. These things are complex, but one thing is for sure, they are not made better by the predatory nature of recruitment from the FAI to force young players into choosing international allegiances before they have even found themselves in the first team at their clubs. Maybe some reassessment on their part wouldn’t go amiss either.

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McClean hits out at Rice

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