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West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen says his former teammate Declan Rice can become an even better player in the future.
Hammers fans have still not really forgiven the midfielder for leaving the London Stadium for Arsenal, but he is still a close friend of Bowen‘s, and he was very complimentary about Rice’s form this season:
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“Me and Dec don’t get to see each other like we did when he was at West Ham. When we do see each other, it’s at England camp, and it’s 24/7. We miss each other. We got on really well, and it was a sad day when he left.”
“When we’re with England, we’re basically joined at the hip, down to breakfast together, coffees together, playing PlayStation together. It’s always good to see him when we’re on camp.”
“But he’s gone to Arsenal and taken his game to another level, and there are probably even more levels for him to go to. I think he’s really that good. He’s not just a teammate, he’s a really good friend, so seeing the success he’s having is great.”
Bowen’s loyalty makes him a true Hammer
There is no doubt that Rice is a special player, but his personal ambitions meant he always had designs on leaving the Irons.
In contrast, Bowen (who has also had chances to exit the club) has shown true commitment to West Ham. He signed a seven-year deal back in 2023 to remain with the team until 2030.
Of course, his loyalty could be tested if Nuno Espirito’s side are relegated this season, but even then, supporters would forgive him if he decided he wanted to keep playing in the Premier League.
West Ham need more players like Bowen
Of course, loyalty is not everything. To get fans on side, you also have to have the quality to back it up, and the club captain has that in spades. Buy a Bowen jersey from Classic Football Shirts here.
Even with the team struggling at the wrong end of the table, Bowen has still managed to hit double figures for goals. Since joining from Hull City at the start of 2020, he has found the back of the net 84 times in all competitions.
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