‘Weird’: Sky Sports pundit and Premier League icon admits Chelsea really did try to sign him once

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Micah Richards has been speaking to Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast – where Chelsea got a mention.

The trio have launched a new podcast to celebrate the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

So, what did Micah Richards tell Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker about Chelsea? Let’s take a look…

What’s the story?

Well, the 35-year-old admitted that Chelsea once tried to sign him while he was at Manchester City.

Richards said: “I’ve been tapped up. When I first come onto the scene, there was Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, there was Chelsea. There was Spurs. Everyone wanted a bit. It was a weird feeling.”

The Sky Sports pundit went on to stay at Manchester City until 2015, making 246 appearances in total for the Citizens before joining Aston Villa, where he racked up 31 outings.

In total, Richards amassed 203 Premier League appearances, winning one Premier League title which came in the dramatic 2011/12 campaign, as Sergio Aguero sealed victory for Manchester City in the final seconds of the season.

Unfortunately, Richards did not mention what year Chelsea tried to sign him, only hinting that it could have been around the time of his Manchester City debut in 2005.

Had he completed a move to Stamford Bridge at that time, he would have won plenty of silverware under Jose Mourinho and then Carlo Ancelotti.

Micah Richards may have struggled at Chelsea

If Chelsea did try to sign Richards around the 2005/06 campaign, then he might have found it hard at Stamford Bridge.

At that time, the Blues had Paulo Ferreira starting in the right-back department, who was outstanding in west London.

Therefore, Richards may have had to settle for a place on the bench if Chelsea won the race to sign him from Manchester City all those years ago.