James Maddison, the England international, has disclosed the Arsenal player he wishes was part of Tottenham Hotspur.
Under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs have experienced a commendable beginning, and Maddison has been a pivotal contributor since his summer move from the recently-relegated Leicester City.
- Nemanja Matic names two Man Utd players who were ‘always late’ for training
- Watch: Chelsea player left with bloody nose after Lallana incident at full-time
- Andre Onana ‘could be banned from playing for Man Utd’ by FIFA rule
- Lionel Messi vs Ronaldo: Steven Gerrard names ‘the GOAT’
However, injuries to several key players, including the 27-year-old Maddison himself, have contributed to a recent downturn in Spurs’ performance.
They suffered defeats to Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Aston Villa in three of their last four matches.
While Spurs bounced back with a remarkable 3-3 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, thanks to goals from Son Heung-min, Giovani Lo Celso, and Dejan Kulusevski, the team currently sits in fifth place after their recent dip in form. Meanwhile, local rivals Arsenal lead the Premier League table.
In a conversation with former goalkeeper Ben Foster, Maddison admitted his envy for a key Arsenal player in red, acknowledging that the player possesses ‘everything’ a professional could desire in the modern game.
“He’s got everything. He’s technically really good,” the Spurs man admitted about Gunners midfielder Declan Rice. “He is a joke when it comes to low-cut passes. I think he’s a top, top player, I hate that he plays for Arsenal.”
Rice has played a crucial role in Arsenal’s success this season, contributing to Mikel Arteta’s team holding a two-point lead over Liverpool in second place.
The 24-year-old has been a constant starter in every game for his new club, showcasing his skills by scoring two goals and providing one assist.
Maddison also expressed admiration for another midfield standout, whom both he and Rice collaborate with during international duty with the England national team.
Speaking about Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, he added: “I think I’m his biggest fan. He just loves footy. I just had no doubt (that he’d succeed at Madrid), because of his mentality.
“He’s got a 30-year-old mentality of a Premier League veteran who’s played 600 league games… the way he carries himself and the way he speaks, it’s of the highest order.”
