Declan Rice’s childhood team-mate and Latvian goalkeeper Rihards Matrevics says he always thought he would be a ‘special player’ | OneFootball

Latvian goalkeeper Rihards Matrevics says he always thought Declan Rice would go on to achieve big things back when the two played together in West Ham’s academy.

Rice and Matrevics came through the ranks together at West Ham and reunited on Monday night when England hosted Latvia at Wembley in a World Cup qualifier, which the Three Lions won 3-0.

The Arsenal midfielder had spoken about his friendship with Matrevics ahead of the game, sharing memories of when the two were younger.

Rice joked: “If he starts tomorrow, you’ll see he’s about 7ft 5! He’s so tall. Honestly, I’m not lying, he’s so, so tall,’ Rice said.

“I remember him when he came to West Ham, it was like, “Wow, this guy’s a beast”. And he couldn’t speak much English at the time, but by the end, it was unbelievable.

“We had a lot of free time and we’d go out for some food and go to Nando’s in Romford, because we stayed in Essex, and he’d have to duck down to get underneath the door.

“He was such a good guy. I’m really looking forward to seeing him tomorrow because it’s been a long time.”

And after the game, Matrevics shared some insight into what Rice was like as a youngster and says he is an inspiration to players hoping to make it in the game.

On whether he knew Rice would make it, Matrevics said: “I think you could sense it.

“You could feel there was something special about him. Every time in training, every pass he made was perfect, just his attitude to football and how professional he was.

“I think all of us would try to be like that. I think you could just see that he was going to be a special player one day but to see what he’s gone and done now with Arsenal and the type of career he’s having, it’s crazy.

“Also it’s inspiring for all of us. Really my ambition is to come back to England.

“Back then, his personality was the same. That’s the most inspirational part about him. He’s done so much and he’s still the same guy.

“All of what you see now in the media, how he is with the kids, the fans, I think that’s all real. That’s just him and how he is.

“That’s the Declan I remember too and we had a good chat just now.

“It’s been a long time (since I saw him). Probably since I was about 18 or 19 so six or seven years.”