Declan Rice is the best in the world! Emmanuel Petit claims no one is better than Arsenal star & only unsung Inter hero can rival him

Emmanuel Petit has hailed Declan Rice as the best midfielder in the world, insisting that there is no one better than the Arsenal star and that he's worth his £100 million transfer fee. Indeed, the former France international believes only Inter's engine-room maestro Nicolo Barella comes close to matching Rice's quality.

Speaking to Sambaslots, Petit said: "Declan Rice proved last season that he is worth £100 million and now he has taken that to the next level.

"He proved he was a leader in the team last year, acting like a captain, every game he has been at his highest level. He looked tired after the Euros and picked up a silly red card, but he has step by step progressed to the very highest level.

"He is worth £100 million without a doubt and it would be very, very expensive if a club tried to sign him from Arsenal.

"Alongside Nicolo Barella at Inter, I would say that Rice is the best midfielder in the world at the moment. In Barella, there is a player that I’m not surprised has been linked to Real Madrid."

Signed for a British joint-record transfer fee of £100m from West Ham in 2023, Rice has become one of the best players in his position. Although the 26-year-old primarily operates as a defensive midfielder, his eye for goal, ability to progress the ball and tenacious approach have seen him operate in more advanced roles, making him the complete package. Indeed, his all-round abilities were on full display in Arsenal's emphatic 5-1 aggregate win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals earlier this month.

Rice will next be seen in action on the coming Tuesday, April 29, as the Gunners welcome Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.