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Micah Richards thanks Manchester City fans ahead of move to Premier League rivals Aston Villa

The defender, who spent last season on loan at Fiorentina, has agreed a deal to join the Villans after rejecting a lucrative switch to Sunderland



Richard SellersMoving on: Richards has agreed a deal to join Villa
Micah Richards has taken to his Instagram page to thank Manchester City fans for their support ahead of his move to Aston Villa.

Richards made 245 appearances for the Blues, after coming through the youth ranks at City.

He spent last season on loan at Fiorentina after being frozen out of the first-team picture, and has now agreed to join Villa ahead of next season, after rejecting a lucrative move to Sunderland.

Richards wrote: "I just wanted to thank the Man City fans for the amazing support they've given me over the years.

"I joined City when I was 14 and have been part of a brilliant period in the club's history - winning our first league title in 44 years, winning the FA Cup, playing in the Champions League.

Gabriele MaltintiItalian job: Richards during his loan spell with Fiorentina
"The club, the manager, the staff who work behind the scenes, the players, but most importantly the fans - everyone - will always have a special place in my heart.

"City's been like a family to me and I wish everyone the best of luck for next season and the coming years."

Sunderland had offered the right back around £90,000-a-week, but he chose Villa - and a deal understood to be around £65,000-a-week - after a personal intervention from Tim Sherwood.

The sought-after 26-year-old, had also been pursued by West Ham following his release from Manchester City. But he is expected to sign for Villa next week when he returns from holiday.

Good Luck Micah, hope your injuries are behind you now, glad it wasn't the dippers or arse you went to.

Good luck to him as right, its hard to think he is still only 26.

All the best to him.

Rivals though?

I Just Blue Myself wrote:All the best to him.

Rivals though?

Twice a season.

Broken record maybe but we're letting him walk away and looking to pay daft money for other home grown? Kills me this

He will be missed.

Top lad.

Pretty Boy Lee wrote:Broken record maybe but we're letting him walk away and looking to pay daft money for other home grown? Kills me this

We're not just letting him walk away, he was offered very generous terms to stay.

Anyway, good luck Micah.

Good luck to him. Seems a genuinely top man, all round nice guy and probably the best thing to come out of cassell's academy.

Heartbroken that he's chosen villa though. What a stupid move. Should've stayed in Europe. Instead he's probably resigned himself to a career of bouncing between mid table English clubs for the next 5 years.

KinkyKinkladze wrote:Good luck to him. Seems a genuinely top man, all round nice guy and probably the best thing to come out of cassell's academy.

Heartbroken that he's chosen villa though. What a stupid move. Should've stayed in Europe. Instead he's probably resigned himself to a career of bouncing between mid table English clubs for the next 5 years.

He probably thought about how successful Stephen Ireland was at Villa and wants to follow in his footsteps.

I'd have thought he could aim higher than Villa.

Liverpool would be his level I reckon. Everton too, Swansea maybe?

The guy could play for anybody, we know that. People forget the first premier league title, how immense he was. Genuinely disappointed not to see him signing with a club the standard of somebody like Dortmund or atletico.

He'll be a new promotion signing in 2 years, if this is the route he's going down.

Dortmund or Atletico? I love the guy, but you're on crack, mate. His injury record is horrendous & he has a mere 19 league appearances in the last 4 (!) seasons to his name.

Looks like he chose a (more or less) stable club where he's expected to be a nailed-on starter on reduced wages to get his career back on track. If he can stay injury-free, he'll be challenging for Europe somewhere in no time.

Might be a very smart move if the takeover happens

Sorry man but I don't agree. Aye, injuries fucked him in his last 2 seasons with us, but he was solid as fuck in the agueroooooo year. A rock at the back and superb going forward, he was dani alves like. At fiori he was fucked about by management. I don't think he's top level by any means, but he's certainly above tim Sherwood/Aston villa.

I would personally have him back in an instant.

Disclaimer: although feeling my opinion is rooted in objectivity, I do admit to a certain fanboydem for the guy.

As a side note, anyone else noticed he's a lot less bulky these days?
All the best at Villa though.

Could be a shrewd move if he stays injury free.

Play regularly and impress and make a move to a top 6 club in a couple of years and still be in his 'prime' years

He is one of our own, but I must say I'm not terribly sad to see him go. The reports on Maffeo suggest in a year or two we will have a much better footballer on our hands. Have folks forgot the crap he delivered lately, the ambling back, poor positional play and lack of concentration. He was superb four years ago. But he is not that player now, for whatever reason.

I wish him good luck at Villa though, the scene of his unforgettable headed equaliser and interview after

All the best Micah, another city legend for me.

I'd of taken Sunderland 95k(!!!!!!!) though, two similar clubs so take the cash! Although a brummie lad and he already loaded so can see why he did it.

He will be success there, him and okore centre back will be rocks, that's where he should be playing not right back.

Nothing but the best to Micah, The 6-1 he was brilliant.

Good luck to him. If he can stay injury free he could make the England squad now he no longer plays for us. When fit, he's still the best right back we've got.