Declan Rice Believes Madueke Will Surprise Everyone With Its Quality

Declan Rice has publicly criticized the strong negative reaction on social media to Arsenal's signing of winger Noni Madueke. Rice expressed his disapproval of the backlash and defended Madueke, predicting the player will surprise everyone with his quality during the upcoming season.

The 23-year-old Madueke completed his transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal earlier this month for a fee potentially rising to £52 million. This move sparked significant anger among some Arsenal supporters, leading to a petition against his arrival and vandalism of murals outside the Emirates Stadium featuring the phrase "Arteta Out". The hashtag #NoToMadueke also gained traction on social media platform X, with fans expressing concerns about Madueke's inconsistent performance record during his two seasons at Chelsea.

Rice, however, provided a positive reference for Madueke, citing their close friendship from playing together for the England National Team. Rice stated, "To be honest, I don't like it. However, I know how excited he is. I've spoken to him and you'll see what he's like this season." He emphasized Madueke's hunger and determination to prove himself at Arsenal, describing him as exactly the type of player the club wants. Rice further highlighted Madueke's visible enthusiasm during his contract signing and confidently predicted, "I think he's going to surprise a lot of people." Rice concluded by reaffirming his strong personal support for Madueke, who missed Arsenal's pre-season tour to Asia due to participating in the 2025 Club World Cup with Chelsea.