Declan Rice says he will speak with Arsenal teammate Ben White in a bid to convince the defender to return to the England set up in the future.
The 26-year-old rejected a call-up from Gareth Southgate for the national team’s international friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.
White has not played for the Three Lions since leaving Qatar during the middle of the 2022 Fifa World Cup.
The Football Association cited “personal reasons” in the Arsenal player’s decision to go home early, but reports later claimed that it was due to a verbal bust-up he had with assistant coach Steve Holland. Southgate has denied that any such altercation took place.
Declan Rice bids to convince Ben White of England return:
“When I get back I can have a conversation with him [White] and see the ins and outs and see what he thinks,” Rice said.
“I would love him to come. I think Bukayo (Saka) would. I think Aaron Ramsdale would. I think we’re all going to be on him when we get back to say… hopefully, he can change his mind but I don’t know the ins and outs of that conversation.”
“The only thing I can say is, it’s Ben’s life. It’s Ben’s decision.
“We can’t argue with him with what he wants to do. Of course, there’s always going to be people writing stuff, having their opinions on what they think.
“But at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is what he thinks and at this moment in time, he obviously doesn’t want to play for England.
“I really hope he does (change his mind), because I see him every day, he is such a good character. For people that don’t know, such a good character, very composed, very level-headed.
“When he’s on a football pitch, he will do anything to win but also I think for England as well, he can play as a centre-back and at right-back, as an inverted full-back. Now he’s a really key tool that we could have.
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