- Wright convinced Rice to join Arsenal
- Visited England camp in March
- Rice completed Arsenal move on Saturday
WHAT HAPPENED? Wright, who spent seven years at Arsenal, revealed that he visited the English national team camp ahead of their European qualifying games against Italy and Ukraine back in March where he approached Rice and begged him to join Arsenal in the summer.
WHAT THEY SAID: Speaking on Wrighty's House podcast, the former Arsenal star said, "Everyone was saying when I went to the England squad, I was tapping him up - Yes, I f*cking was! I was! I was literally begging him! I don’t work for the club, I’m an Arsenal fan. I said, ‘Look at you & Saka, how cool you lot look together’. It’s just excitement."
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Wright also suggested that he is not affiliated to Arsenal in any capacity but as a fan he wanted Rice to come to his favourite club which prompted him to approach the midfielder.
IN TWO PHOTOS:
WHAT NEXT? After completing a move to Arsenal for a club-record fee of £105m ($137m), Rice is set to travel with the squad to USA for a pre-season tour this month.