English-born starlet of Nigerian descent Ife Ibrahim has hailed Arsenal midfield general Declan Rice as a ‘real leader’ after encountering the England international during his time training with Mikel Arteta’s first-team players, Footynaija.com reports.
Ibrahim is a blooming defensive midfielder and one of the brightest prospects coming through Arsenal’s prestigious Hale End Academy. The 17-year-old, currently on a scholarship deal, is making tremendous progress within the U18s ranks and the Gunners view him as one for the future.
Ibrahim’s immense potential has earned him a number of training sessions with the first-team – an experience the youngster claims has been a massive curve for him. He went on to reveal the significant role Rice has played during these rare training opportunities, labelling the former West Ham skipper a real leader.
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“I’ve had quite a few opportunities to train with the first team, which has been a massive learning experience, especially working with someone like Declan Rice, who plays in a similar position,” the 17-year-old said as revealed by quotes from Arsenal’s Young Gun Series.
“He’s always encouraging, always making people feel welcome. He’s a top professional with an elite mentality, and you can see why he’s had such an impact since joining the club. He’s a real leader – he’ll give me pointers on things like body shape and positioning, which has been so helpful.”
Ibrahim, who joined Arsenal’s youth setup back in May 2016, is comfortable on the ball and reliable in 1v1 situations. He can also play as a full-back. Born in Newham, England, Ibrahim has represented the Three Lions at U15 level but remains eligible to represent Nigeria through his parents.
