Micah Richards ponders Manchester City exit

Long serving defender Micah Richards is considering a transfer away from Man City as he contemplates a move in search of more regular first tea football. Despite the defender recently suggesting that he would be staying at his boyhood club for the forseeable future, it appears that the right back is now open to a transfer elsewhere.

Man City's coach Manuel Pellegrini, newly installed at the beginning of the season, has so far preferred to play Pablo Zabaleta as his first choice right sided defender, leaving club favourite Micah Richards warming the bench. Despite recent comments suggesting that Richards would stay at the club regardless of a lack of first team action, the player has now backtracked on those comments and admitted that he may have to look elsewhere for regular first team football.


The 25-year-old has already been told that he will be offered a brand new contract at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, but the defender has now decided that even money may not be enough to persuade him to stay at the club. The defender has struggled to force his way into recent England squad's and has already reportedly given up hope of a call up for his country's World Cup campaign next year.


With numerous clubs all interested in the player, including reports of interest from Arsenal and Manchester United, the player is now seriously considering his options.


"If you ask any footballer, they want to play football. I could go and sign a contract tomorrow and be one of the richest but it’s not about money, it’s about football," Richards quipped.


"I’ve been playing since I was 17 and always been first choice so to be at the club now and be in and out, it’s sort of hard to take. I’ve already spoken to City and they’re happy to extend my deal, but I’ve said I just want to see how many games I play this season.


"I don’t ever want to leave Manchester City with the way it’s going, but it’s one of those where you have to look at your career and say: ‘Are you playing enough?’ and come the end of the season I’ll do that. Hopefully I’ll have played enough."