Declan Rice lifts lid on ‘King Kong’ giant star West Ham let go ahead of reunion with England

Others felt it was inevitable he would eventually move on and don’t feel particularly strongly either way.

There’s no doubt Rice gave up what would have been legend status at West Ham when he pushed for a move to Arsenal.

That was nearly two years ago now – and West Ham have ironically twice thwarted his chances of winning the title which was the driving force behind his decision to leave.

But Rice has handled himself almost impeccably since his Hammers exit.

And every now and then, West Ham supporters get a glimpse of the captain and the personality they so adored.

After being subbed off, jeered and forced to watch Arsenal fall out of the title race in the recent 1-0 defeat to West Ham, Rice showed his class once more.

Rice gave a signed shirt to West Ham star Ollie Scarles, with a personalised message to boot.

The midfielder has never hidden his love for the Hammers.

He admits he finds it difficult to play against his old club and has notably – and deliberately – never kissed the Arsenal badge like he did West Ham’s.

Rice knows West Ham made him the player he is.

So when he sat in front of a packed England press conference and was asked to reflect on his six years as an England player, those Hammers memories and gratitude came to the fore once more.

Rice talked about how advice from senior pros at West Ham has come true.

He also admitted his hair has come on leaps and bounds from the questionable trim he had when he first burst on the scene with West Ham and then the Three Lions.

But Rice also lifted the lid on a ‘King Kong’ giant star West Ham let go ahead of a reunion with England.

Rice’s trip down West Ham memory lane after England milestone

“The hair’s better isn’t it!” Rice joked in the England presser ahead of the clash with Latvia at Wembley.

“I’ve grown so much as a player and a person in that time (six years).

“To think six years ago, I remember ex pros, who have retired now, when I was at West Ham telling me ‘Dec enjoy your career because it goes so quick’ and already it’s six years in an England shirt, it just goes so fast.

“It’s taught me to just cherish every moment.”

It was when Rice was asked if he knew anything about Latvia that he sprang something of a surprise.

While the ex Hammers skipper admitted his knowledge of Latvian football was limited, he does have one big West Ham connection. Quite literally.

Rice lifts lid on ‘King Kong’ giant star West Ham let go

Because Rice revealed he knows huge 6ft 7in Latvia star Rihards Matrevics, who was in the Hammers youth ranks with him but was ultimately let go.

“I actually have a story, because one of the Latvian players who is on the bench, who is a goalkeeper called Rihards Matrevics, I stayed with him – he was at West Ham with me as a kid.

“We lived together in a house, it’s called like ‘digs’ – when you’re an Academy player you stay in a house with another family – and we stayed together. He’s from Latvia and I see the other night that he was on the bench.

“So I’m really looking forward to seeing him because I haven’t seen him in years…

“If he starts tomorrow you’ll see, he’s about 7ft 5! He’s so tall. Honestly I’m not lying, he’s so, so tall.

“I remember him when he come to West Ham, we was like ‘wow, this guy’s a beast’.”

A Latvian journalist then revealed they call him ‘King Kong’ in his homeland.

“King Kong, there you go! He’s so, so tall honestly,” Rice added.

‘We used to go to Nando’s in Romford and he’d have to duck’

“He couldn’t speak much English at the time but by the end his English was unbelievable. Really, really good (player), got on with everyone, we had a lot of times where we’d get free time and we’d go out for some food, we’d go to like Nandos in Romford because we stayed in Essex and he’d have to duck down to get underneath the door. He’s that tall.

“He’s such a good guy and I’m really looking forward to seeing him tomorrow, because it’s been a long time. And the other night, that was one of the first things I checked, to see if he was involved and he was so it will be nice to see him.”

Given goalkeepers tend to mature later in their careers with experience, it’s perhaps surprising West Ham did not hold on to Matrevics by virtue of the fact he is over two metres tall.

The 26-year-old has been at Barnet, Hendon, St Albans and then back in Latvia since being released by the Hammers in 2018.

He has been Latvia’s number one until their last game, which was under a new manager.

The decision to bench Matrevics caused a stir in Latvia according to the journalist speaking with Rice.

So West Ham fans should keep an eye out for him at Wembley.

With Graham Potter looking to revamp his goalkeeping department this summer, perhaps we could see King King back in London one day.

Meanwhile Rice’s former Hammers teammate Jarrod Bowen will be hoping to face Matrevics.

That’s after Thomas Tuchel dropped a big Bowen hint with scathing criticism for Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden after the 2-0 win over Albania.