Micah Richards shares brilliant transfer story from Man City days that left him baffled

26.01.2022 - 18:45 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Micah Richards has opened up on a brilliant transfer story from his time at the Etihad Stadium that left the former Manchester City defender baffled.

Richards made 246 appearances for City between 2006 and 2015 after progressing through the youth ranks, later representing Fiorentina (loan) and Aston Villa.

For five of those years he called Joleon Lescott a team-mate. Having previously struck up a good relationship while rooming together on England duty, Richards tried to put a good word in for the then-Everton player.

City were lurking around Lescott before the 2009/2010 season and Mark Hughes was keen on signing him.

However, after doing his bit to project the Lescott cause, it was Richards who very nearly found himself used as a make-weight in that £24.75million deal.

Of course, he did stay put and Hughes - four months after their transfer chat - was sacked by City and replaced by Roberto Mancini in the Etihad Stadium hot-seat.

Richards shared the story while speaking on BBC 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

He said: "We were playing for England, me and Joleon Lescott, and we used to share a room. We roomed together. He was asking me [questions] as he heard Man City were involved and what-not.

"I go back to tell Mark Hughes. He said; 'Yeah, we have been looking at Joleon. Left-footed, never injured. Very good centre-half'.

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"The next minute you know, Man City are trying to buy Joleon Lescott and Mark Hughes is trying to send me the other way. Honestly. It still angers me to this day. I can't even speak [about it]... I'm trying to do them a favour and Mark is trying to throw me under the bus.

"They [Everton] rang my agent and said; 'Man City want