Rio Ferdinand predicts ‘unique’ Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze could ‘play for one of the top teams’

Rio Ferdinand predicted that Eberechi Eze could move on from Crystal Palace to join one of the biggest sides.

The 25-year-old was released by Arsenal as a youth player before establishing himself in the Queens Park Rangers first team, and then joining Palace in 2020, where he has been a first-team regular ever since.

Last year he won his first and second international caps and has regularly been linked with a move away from Selhurst Park, and speaking on TNT Sports, Ferdinand picked out Eze and team-mate Michael Olise as two players who are key to Roy Hodgson’s side.

Speaking ahead of Palace's clash with Arsenal in the Premier League, live on TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: "Look at the win percentage [when Eze and Olise start]. 42.3%, compared to 15.6% when they’re not playing. That shows that they’re important to this team. If you took [Bukayo] Saka and [Martin] Odegaard out of the Arsenal team, [you’d see] the same thing. The disparity in percentage would be the same.

“Every team needs that creative energy and spark. These two are on another level to any of the other players in the team in terms of creativity. When they’re not playing, they can’t find any replacements to supplement the spark that they do have."

Martin Keown praised the mentality and determination of the winger, discussing his thoughts of the player having met him last year.

“I was at the training ground this time last year when Patrick Vieira was about to leave, and I spoke to Eze,” he recalled. “I was immensely impressed with him. A million questions [he asked me]; he particularly wanted to know about work ethic, how I trained every day, how I wanted to be the best.

“He was like, ‘Ok, I need to do more.’ It was very interesting; I watched with great interest afterwards, and he’s just gone on. Roy in his ear, [is] presenting him in the right way. This guy is an immense talent, there’s no doubt about that."

He continued: “He was released by Arsenal as a kid. I wonder if that will come back to haunt Arsenal here today? He said he cried for a week. He realised when it hits you really hard as a young man, you think, ‘Ok, I’m coming back from this.’ It proves that he’s made of really strong stuff.”

Ferdinand added that he thought Eze may go on to bigger things from Palace, explaining: “His journey has been unique. He’s had disappointments in his academy life, released from clubs, found a new journey and a different pathway for himself. He’s got to this level and now he’s an England international.

“This kid, no disrespect to Palace, could go on and play for one of the top teams. He’s got that individual brilliance; he’s got the awareness when he’s dribbling to keep his head up and bring others into play. I speak to other players that play against him, and they say he’s such an elusive player, unpredictable in the way that he carries the ball, but also [his strength].

“If you look at the size of him, he’s got the strength and power to go with it. Again, you’ve got to get out on the pitch and you’ve got to be available.“

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