Micah Richards reveals `worst decision`

Micah Richards has admitted his "worst decision" that led to him joining Aston Villa in 2015. The defender rose through Man City’s academy to make his first team debut in 2005 and scored his first professional goal against Villa in an FA cup tie in February 2006. Richards would go on to earn 13 England caps and collect Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup winners’ medals during his decade at the Etihad.

However, the full-back eventually saw himself slide down the pecking order, in favour of Pablo Zabaleta. This led to a loan move to Fiorentina as he searched for more first team football and subsequently saw him sign for Villa as a free agent - but not before Man City had proposed a new deal in 2014, as he told the Match of the Day Top 10 podcast.

“You had to have so many English players for the quota, so Man City offered me £100,000-a-week, five-and-a-half year deal,” Richards admitted. “And I said no. I said no because I was number two behind (Pablo) Zabaleta. So I'm not all about the money.”

That brought a shocked reaction from host Gary Lineker, who branded Richards an “idiot” for his decision. The Match of the Day presenter asked Richards if he regretted turning down Man City’s offer and received a tongue-in-cheek response.

“Why do you think I work for every ******* broadcaster?,” Richards replied, prompting laughter from Lineker and Alan Shearer. “The worst decision I ever ******* made!

“I went to Aston Villa, that was less money. But then we got relegated in the first season, so my wages halved. So I've gone from a 100 grand-a-week offer to like 25 grand in the Championship.”

Richards signed for Villa in the summer of 2015 and was named captain ahead of the club’s ill-fated relegation campaign, making 24 league appearances. The defender had put pen to paper on a four-year contract but made just three subsequent appearances in the 2016-17 season due to a knee injury, before calling time on his playing days in 2019.

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