Inter Miami’s Sergio Busquets is a ‘world class player’ and he doesn’t score goals, Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman insists on It’s All Kicking Off in debate over Declan Rice’s role at Arsenal

• Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice can take a leaf out of Sergio Busquets’s book 
• Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman argued why $132m signing doesn’t have to score goals 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off 

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice can learn from Sergio Busquets as the Inter Miami star became an ‘absolutely world class player’ without scoring goals, Mail Sport’s Football Editor Ian Ladyman has argued.

Both central midfielders earned big summer moves with Rice swapping West Ham for the Emirates in a $132million deal, while Busquets was a marquee signing for David Beckham’s franchise alongside Lionel Messi.

There is much debate over whether Rice, who scored a dramatic all-important second goal in the Gunners’ 3-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday, should add more goals to his game.

Mail Sport’s Ladyman and popular columnist Chris Sutton joined the discussion in this week’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast. 

‘I don’t agree with it,’ Ladyman began when it was put to him that the likes of former Liverpool captain Graeme Souness had suggested Rice should find the back of the net more. 

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Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice can learn from Sergio Busquets as the Inter Miami star became an ‘absolutely world class player’ without scoring goals, Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman (L) argued

There is much debate over whether Sunday’s matchwinner Rice should score more goals

‘My favorite holding midfield player I’ve ever seen play is Sergio Busquets at Barcelona. I think we all agree an absolutely world class player.

‘He played 481 times for Barcelona in LaLiga over 15 years, how many goals do you think he scored? Eleven, good effort.

Sutton replied: ‘The point is about the role Busquets is playing and if Declan Rice is playing a role as a No 8, a bit higher up then I think that Graeme Souness has a fair point then we would expect him to score more goals.

‘If he’s playing as a holding midfielder then you’re right, you’re both right.

Ladyman continued: ‘Busquets 143 caps for Spain, how many goals?

Sutton responded: ‘Five.’

The answer is two. 

Ladyman added: ‘The point is made that there is a role for Rice to play in that Arsenal team obviously, He played quite deep yesterday. I’m not sure that scoring goals has to be part of that.

Busquets enjoyed an illustrious career alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona before Miami move

‘When you look at that team, [Gabriel] Martinelli by the way, what a footballer he is. There’s goals in that team that don’t have to come from Declan Rice surely.

Sutton finished off the debate: ‘In terms of how he’s going to be viewed further down the line it’s about Arsenal winning trophies. He’s never going to turn into a Frank Lampard, a super prolific goal scorer but to be viewed as a real all-rounder I think Graeme Souness has a point.’

Busquets followed Messi to Miami as a free agent over the summer. The former Spain international played alongside the superstar at the Nou Camp from his Blaugrana first team emergence in 2008 until the Argentine’s emotional goodbye to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

While Messi has understandably dominated the headlines, Busquets has locked down the Miami midfield and played a pivotal role in their dramatic upturn in form. 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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