Micah Richards admits he made up a fake Real Madrid transfer rumour to secure an improved contract at Man City – as pundit also reveals why he took a huge pay cut to join Aston Villa
- The right-back made his breakthrough at Man City, where he played 246 games in 2006
- In the same year he made his debut for England and top clubs began to gather to sign him.
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Micah Richards has admitted he made up a false rumour about a Real Madrid transfer in order to secure an improved contract at Manchester City.
The Sky Sports analyst made his debut for the Cityzens in 2006 at the age of 18 and has made 246 appearances for the club in total.
That same year, he became the youngest defender to ever play for England when he replaced Gary Neville at right-back in a friendly against the Netherlands.
Around this time, top clubs such as Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United reportedly began showing interest in the talented youngster and City struggled to secure the services of the star.
And Richards used the hype surrounding his breakthrough season to his advantage, telling The rest is football that he had asked his agent to make up a story that Spanish giants Real were interested in signing him.
Micah Richards has admitted he made up a false Real Madrid transfer rumour to get an improved contract with Manchester City
The Sky Sports analyst (pictured in 2013) first appeared on the Cityzens scene in 2006
In the same year he became the youngest defender to ever play for England
He said: ‘I got a new contract, had just made my England debut and so on.
‘It was said that Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd were all involved.
We were out about five thousand dollars a week [during negotiations]so I said to my agent: “Just tell me a little rumour, that Real Madrid also want me.”
‘It was reported: “Real Madrid want Micah Richards” and all that. I’m not joking, two days later I signed a deal with Man City. I’m not saying it worked, but…’
The 36-year-old also explained why he ultimately took a 50 percent pay cut to move to Aston Villa in 2015.
‘You had to have so many English players for the quota,’ he said. ‘So Man City offered me $100,000 a week for a five-and-a-half-year contract.
‘And I said no because I was number two behind Pablo Zabaleta. I’m not just concerned with money.
‘I went to Aston Villa, which was less money, but then we got relegated in the first season, so my salary was halved.
The 36-year-old also explained why he ultimately took a 50 percent pay cut to move to Aston Villa
![He said, 'I said no [to a new deal] because I was number two behind Pablo Zabaleta'](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/1725570954_631_Micah-Richards-admits-he-made-up-a-fake-Real-Madrid.jpg "Micah Richards admits he made up a fake Real Madrid transfer rumour to secure an improved contract at Man City - as pundit also reveals why he took a huge pay cut to join Aston Villa 9")
He said, ‘I said no [to a new deal] because I was number two behind Pablo Zabaleta’
On his England debut, Richards replaced Gary Neville, now his Sky colleague, at right-back
‘So I’ve gone from being offered £100,000 a week to £25,000 a week in the Championship.’
Richards made just 31 appearances for Villa over the next four years, with many injuries
The former footballer is now a popular commentator on Sky Sports and also appears regularly on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme and on CBS in the United States.