Declan Rice has offered a strong defense of his Arsenal teammate Ben White after the defender faced jeers from fans at Wembley.
The negative reception occurred during England’s 2-1 victory over Croatia on Thursday, according to “reporting from Yahoo Sports.”
White previously departed the England camp during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for personal reasons and later made himself unavailable for selection under former manager Gareth Southgate.
The defender also faced boos from some supporters during a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in March after returning to the squad under Thomas Tuchel.
Addressing the situation, Rice told BBC Radio 5 Live that the ongoing focus on the past is unnecessary.
He emphasized that White remains committed whenever he represents the national team.
“He always wears the shirt with pride and every time he puts on the shirt, he gives 100 percent,” Rice added.
Before the recent fixture, White noted that the public does not know the full story behind his departure from Qatar, though he maintains that he stands by his decision, as noted by “BBC Sport.”
Rice stated that the team does not discuss the matter and believes White has an exciting future with the England squad.
Beyond his comments on his teammate, Rice confirmed he is nearing a new long-term contract with Arsenal.
The 27-year-old midfielder, who joined the club in 2023, expects to finalize the deal soon.
The agreement is expected to position him among the club’s highest earners alongside Bukayo Saka.