Roy Keane Picks Declan Rice Over Moises Caicedo: English Midfielder Has “A Little Bit Extra”
The ongoing debate between Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Chelsea counterpart Moises Caicedo has intensified recently, drawing opinions from fans, pundits, and football legends alike. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has now weighed in, making his choice clear.
On a recent episode of the *Stick To Football* podcast, Keane explained his preference:
“I would go with Rice every day of the week. He’s just got that package, a little bit extra on all the other parts on Caicedo, I think. I’d go with Rice.”
### The Rise of Rice and Caicedo
Arsenal secured Declan Rice from West Ham United in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £105 million. Since then, Rice has made 113 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 17 goals and providing 23 assists. Despite his impressive individual contribution, a major trophy has eluded him so far.
Meanwhile, Moises Caicedo joined Chelsea in 2023 from Brighton & Hove Albion for a reported £115 million. Caicedo has featured 107 times for the Blues, contributing six goals and 10 assists. Unlike Rice, Caicedo has already helped his team claim two trophies: the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Europa Conference League.
### Rio Ferdinand Shares His Take
Another Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, has also shared his perspective on the Rice vs. Caicedo debate. On his YouTube channel *Rio Ferdinand Presents*, he highlighted the strengths of both players but differentiated their roles.
Ferdinand said:
“I think that they have a lot of similarities in their game. Declan, if you let him off the leash, he’ll give you more going forward. But Caicedo, defensively, he smells danger quicker and better, that’s more of his makeup.”
He added:
“I don’t think there’s much between them [at the moment], if I’m being honest. I’d be happy to have either one of them.”
Ferdinand also revealed that he was keen on both players when they were available on the market, particularly for Manchester United. He emphasized the different roles each midfielder excels at:
“If you’re going to play a holding midfielder, I’d probably say Caicedo. But if you’re going to say as a No. 8, I would say Declan. You let Declan go forward, he scores more goals than Caicedo all day long.”
### Current Standings and Upcoming Fixtures
As of the 2025-26 Premier League season, Rice’s Arsenal currently top the table after seven games. Chelsea, with Caicedo in the squad, find themselves in seventh place, five points adrift from the leaders.
The two English giants will meet for the first time in the league at Stamford Bridge on November 30, with the reverse fixture scheduled at the Emirates Stadium on February 28, 2026.
—
### About the Author
**Aditya Singh** is a European football journalist and editor at Sportskeeda with nearly 4 years of experience in football writing. With over 7 years in journalism and marketing, Aditya brings deep context and insight to his work. He played football at the college level for two years and is a lifelong fan of Tottenham Hotspur’s creative style.
Inspired initially by Zinedine Zidane’s artistry and leadership, Aditya admires Luka Modric’s elegant, hard-working style and Carlo Ancelotti’s managerial philosophy focused on player freedom. He sees great potential in the young rivalry developing between Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala.
Away from football, Aditya enjoys classical fiction, travel, and exploring diverse cuisines. He is also a recipient of Sportskeeda’s ‘Long-form Editor of the Month’ award.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-i-go-every-day-week-roy-keane-makes-choice-debate-arsenal-star-declan-rice-chelsea-ace-moises-caicedo