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West Ham star Declan Rice meeting revealed... 'I met him, I want to build team around him'
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Mick McCarthy has confirmed he has met West Ham star Declan Rice - and he wants to build his team around him.
The 19-year-old, now a permanent fixture in the West Ham side, has been deliberating for some time over who he will represent at international level.
He has appeared twice for the Irish in friendlies under former manager Martin O'Neill but asked not to be selected for competitive games as he decided who he would represent.
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McCarthy, appearing on Goals on Sunday, confirmed that talks had been held with the Hammer.
"I had a really good meeting with myself, Robbie Keane and his dad," he said.
"It's up to him what he wants to decide on, that's where I've left it if I'm quite honest with you.
"It's not my decision as to whether he plays for the Republic of Ireland.
"It's only my job to decide, if he wants to stay with us, whether to pick him.
"He's a really talented player and a lovely lad with a really nice family behind him. He's got everything that makes me want him to play for us.
He's a future captain - he's that kind of player
"He will get 100 caps. I'd love to build a team around him."
It's now up to Rice as to whether he chooses green or white - and McCarthy wants an answer by March.
"We start in March and that's my deadline for where I need to know," he added.
"He's a future captain - he's that kind of player."