Newcastle United full-back Kieran Trippier has sensationally claimed that West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice is better than Casemiro.
Casemiro moved to the Premier League this season and the Brazilian has had an instant impact at Manchester United. However, Trippier believes Rice is currently ahead of the serial Champions League winner.
“Declan’s unbelievable,” Trippier said(h/t Fotmob). “I don’t know if you watched the game the other day, when we played West Ham, but his intelligence, the way he breaks up play and how he travels with it and how powerful… unbelievable.
“He’s probably one of the best in the world at what he does.
“Don’t get me wrong, Casemiro – the trophies he’s won, the Champions League, he’s a world-class player. But if you’re talking right now, honestly, Dec’s incredible. He’s got the age, as well.”
Is Declan Rice actually better than Casemiro?
Declan Rice has been the subject of interest for many top European clubs over the previous few seasons and he’s still only 24 years old.
He’s played 188 Premier League games for West Ham to date and has also featured in 10 Europa League. But, Casemiro is a seasoned pro who’s played 81 games in the Champions League alone.
Rice has impressed everyone with his performances in England but until he succeeds in the UCL, his true talent cannot be gauged. The Champions League is where the best of the best play and until Rice can rub shoulders with them and come out victorious, we don’t think it will be sensible to compare him with one of the best defensive midfielders of the modern era.
Also, the England international is yet to win a silverware whereas the Man United midfielder has won 22 trophies in his professional career and the way United are playing this season, he could win one or two more.
Trippier has favoured his English pal for obvious reasons but we think the main motivation as to why he’s chosen Declan Rice over Casemiro is because of mind games.
Newcastle United and Manchester United are scheduled to face off against each other in the Carabao Cup final later this month and we have a feeling that the right-back is trying to rattle United’s cage with these comments.
Casemiro was shown a straight red against Palace last weekend so Trippier knows that the Brazilian has a slight mean streak within him. Maybe, the NUFC man is just trying to ignite that and possibly force him into making a mistake when these two sides meet at Wembley.
