Aston Villa defender Micah Richards has told the Daily Mirror that the club should look to sign Charlie Austin – if the club have to sell Christian Benteke this summer.
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Micah Richards, 27, spend 10 years at Manchester City.
The Nerazzurri are managed by Richards’ ex-City boss Roberto Mancini and he approached the Englishman about coming to the San Siro when his contract at the Etihad expired this summer. I wouldn’t say don’t go to Manchester City, because if he’s playing well he could play.
‘I don’t want to say go there and then he [Pellegrini] doesn’t play him – he’ll be ringing me up afterwards!’.
Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling issues are holding up a big money move for Aston Villa forward Christian Benteke, according to Merseyside football expert, Graham Beecroft.
“I know the level’s a lot harder now but the manager’s always said if you’re good enough you’ll get the chance and I hope the players do get the chance”.
City fans are desperate to see a homegrown player make the grade and there was some consternation when manager Manuel Pellegrini failed to hand anyone from the youth set-up the chance of a first-team run-out in the “dead-rubber” clash with Southampton in the final game of last season.
Although Richards’ appearances at City were limited towards the end of his time with the club, he was offered a new deal to stay there. “My problem over the last couple of years has been picking up injuries and getting that consistency of playing”.
Richards added: “I got on with him well”.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you are offered, I thought I can’t keep doing this”.
“As a player, especially in the Premier League, if you get offered to play somewhere regularly, you have to take it”.
“I didn’t want to be out in Italy, then the manager gets sacked and I’m fighting for my place in the same situation”.
“That’s me anyway, it’s the sort of person I am”.
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“That’s one of the main reasons I chose to come back”.
