[article=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/08/micah-richards-leave-manchester-city-summer-despite-contract-offer]Micah Richards, Manchester City's longest-serving player, has reluctantly accepted he needs to leave the club and decided to turn down their offer of a new contract and pay rise.
Richards, with almost 250 appearances to his name since making his debut in October 2005, believes he needs a fresh start elsewhere to play more regularly and try to rediscover the form that enabled him, at 18, to take Rio Ferdinand's record as the youngest defender to win an England cap. His move will be part of a gradual exodus of English players from the Etihad, with at least four others on their way out in the summer.
City had been trying to dissuade Richards from joining that list, offering a new deal with improved terms, but Pablo Zabaleta has established himself as Manuel Pellegrini's first-choice right-back this season and that has been uppermost in Richards' mind.
His talks with Pellegrini have been amicable and there is an understanding within the club that it has been a difficult decision for a player who has been involved with them since the age of 14. City will want around £7m for the 25-year-old, citing his importance in their title-winning season before injuries allowed Zabaleta the chance to take over on the right-hand side of their defence.
Richards was nominated for their player of the year award that season – described by Gareth Bale as the most difficult opponent he faced in England – but there have been times in the current campaign when he has been fully fit and not even among the substitutes. After losing his place as a regular in England's squads, the past two years have become increasingly difficult, culminating in him being restricted to only 10 starts at City in Pellegrini's first season at the club.
The news has been partly expected at City and the club have already started making contingency plans, sounding out Bacary Sagna to determine whether the Arsenal defender is tempted by a move to Manchester. Sagna has been locked into a contract dispute with Arsenal because of the club's willingness to offer only one-year deal extensions to players in their 30s. Richards, a boyhood Arsenal fan, would be a contender to replace Sagna if the 31-year-old France international leaves north London.
Richards has also been linked with Liverpool and Newcastle and should not be short of options. The defender has 13 England caps but has not featured under Roy Hodgson and is determined to resurrect his international career. His departure could feasibly leave City with only two English players in their senior squad.
Jack Rodwell, the £12m signing from Everton, is available after two injury-troubled seasons at City while Joleon Lescott has already confirmed he will leave and Gareth Barry is working on the basis that his time at City is finished. He will have plenty of offers after a successful year on loan at Everton, with the strong possibility that he will be tied to a permanent deal at Goodison Park.
Scott Sinclair, on loan at West Bromwich Abion, is likely to leave while Richard Wright, the third-choice goalkeeper, is out of contract at the end of the season and that leaves James Milner and Joe Hart as potentially the only senior Englishmen in Pellegrini's squad.
Milner, like Richards, has also been frustrated by his inability to win a regular place in the side and is open-minded about his future, but City intend to hold talks with him about a new contract. Dedryck Boyata becomes a free agent in the summer and the Belgian defender is also expected to leave.[/article]
Richards, with almost 250 appearances to his name since making his debut in October 2005, believes he needs a fresh start elsewhere to play more regularly and try to rediscover the form that enabled him, at 18, to take Rio Ferdinand's record as the youngest defender to win an England cap. His move will be part of a gradual exodus of English players from the Etihad, with at least four others on their way out in the summer.
City had been trying to dissuade Richards from joining that list, offering a new deal with improved terms, but Pablo Zabaleta has established himself as Manuel Pellegrini's first-choice right-back this season and that has been uppermost in Richards' mind.
His talks with Pellegrini have been amicable and there is an understanding within the club that it has been a difficult decision for a player who has been involved with them since the age of 14. City will want around £7m for the 25-year-old, citing his importance in their title-winning season before injuries allowed Zabaleta the chance to take over on the right-hand side of their defence.
Richards was nominated for their player of the year award that season – described by Gareth Bale as the most difficult opponent he faced in England – but there have been times in the current campaign when he has been fully fit and not even among the substitutes. After losing his place as a regular in England's squads, the past two years have become increasingly difficult, culminating in him being restricted to only 10 starts at City in Pellegrini's first season at the club.
The news has been partly expected at City and the club have already started making contingency plans, sounding out Bacary Sagna to determine whether the Arsenal defender is tempted by a move to Manchester. Sagna has been locked into a contract dispute with Arsenal because of the club's willingness to offer only one-year deal extensions to players in their 30s. Richards, a boyhood Arsenal fan, would be a contender to replace Sagna if the 31-year-old France international leaves north London.
Richards has also been linked with Liverpool and Newcastle and should not be short of options. The defender has 13 England caps but has not featured under Roy Hodgson and is determined to resurrect his international career. His departure could feasibly leave City with only two English players in their senior squad.
Jack Rodwell, the £12m signing from Everton, is available after two injury-troubled seasons at City while Joleon Lescott has already confirmed he will leave and Gareth Barry is working on the basis that his time at City is finished. He will have plenty of offers after a successful year on loan at Everton, with the strong possibility that he will be tied to a permanent deal at Goodison Park.
Scott Sinclair, on loan at West Bromwich Abion, is likely to leave while Richard Wright, the third-choice goalkeeper, is out of contract at the end of the season and that leaves James Milner and Joe Hart as potentially the only senior Englishmen in Pellegrini's squad.
Milner, like Richards, has also been frustrated by his inability to win a regular place in the side and is open-minded about his future, but City intend to hold talks with him about a new contract. Dedryck Boyata becomes a free agent in the summer and the Belgian defender is also expected to leave.[/article]
