Fiorentina defender Micah Richards has revealed that he rejected the chance to join Chelsea and Manchester United earlier in his career.
Richards was tipped to become one of England’s greatest ever defenders and had a potential ‘big’ future ahead of him, but injury problems and a lack of playing time at former club Manchester City saw him struggle to make an impact.
The 26-year-old was loaned to Serie A side Fiorentina in the summer, although he has discussed how he rejected the chance to join Chelsea and United earlier in his career.
He told The Daily Telegraph: “I probably wouldn’t have left. I had a chance to go to Chelsea five years ago, and Manchester United, but I didn’t feel it was right. I always enjoyed City.
“They gave me a chance at such a young age [17]. I’ve been a bit unfortunate because, whenever I picked up some form, I got a niggling injury. With City, if you get an injury you can find yourself out of the team for months.
“If we didn’t get the investment we did, I’d probably be captain now.”
Richards has only made two Premier League appearances for City in the last two seasons and he has said that he expects to leave the club when he returns for his loan spell in Florence.
“I do feel it is closed now at City for me unless Roberto Mancini got the job and wanted to bring me back in!
“Wherever I go next, or stay at Fiorentina, I want to be first choice. It’s nothing to do with money. If it was for money, I’d have signed at City.”