Steve McManaman has just named one of Real Madrid’s midfielders as being better than Arsenal’s Declan Rice which may surprise a few.
Arsenal host Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals first-leg with Mikel Arteta’s team bidding to reach the last four of the competition for the first time since 2009.
The Gunners face a star-studded Madrid team who have reached the last four of the competition in each of the last three seasons.
Ahead of the mouth-watering tie in North London, former Madrid midfielder McManaman has been picking his combined Arsenal and Madrid team.
Steve McManaman picks Federico Valverde over Declan Rice
Steve McManaman has picked Federico Valverde over Declan Rice in his combined Real Madrid and Arsenal XI.
Valverde, who has been described as ‘complete’, has become one of the top midfielders in world football and McManaman is a big fan of his.
When asked to pick between Rice and Valverde, McManaman told TNT Sports: “I love the pair of them, but Fede Valverde.”
The former Madrid and Liverpool midfielder picked just two Arsenal players by selecting William Saliba over David Alaba and Jurien Timber over Ferland Mendy.
Meanwhile, he also picked Antonio Rudiger over Gabriel Magalhaes, Jude Bellingham over Martin Odegaard and most controversially, McManaman named Rodrygo Goes over Bukayo Saka.
Federico Valverde could start in different role vs Arsenal
Valverde has been tipped to start at right-back against Arsenal with Carlo Ancelotti looking to solve his full-back crisis.
Ancelotti is also set to name David Alaba at left-back as Ferland Mendy is currently out injured and Fran Garcia has struggled to make an impression there.
Los Blancos are also having a ‘penalty crisis’ with the team having missed five in total this season. Kylian Mbappe will be the player in charge of Madrid’s penalties against Arsenal.
