• Premier League

City defender Richards considering his options

ESPN staff
December 1, 2013
Micah Richards says Manchester City are happy to extend his contract © PA Photos
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Micah Richards admitted he may have to quit Manchester City in the summer to get first-team football.

The 25-year-old defender has been assured he will be offered an extension to his contract at the Etihad Stadium and does not want to leave his only club.

But Richards, who only figured in two of City's first 12 Premier League games this season, feels he needs to play more.

Pablo Zabaleta replaced Richards as City's first-choice right-back at the end of the 2011-12 campaign and won the club's Player of the Year award last season, when the Englishman struggled with injuries.

And Zabaleta has kept his place under new manager Manuel Pellegrini, leaving Richards pondering his options.

He told British Sunday newspapers: "If you ask any footballer, they want to play football. I could go and sign a contract tomorrow and be one of the richest but it's not about money, it's about football.

"I've been playing since I was 17 and always been first choice so to be at the club now and be in and out, it's sort of hard to take.

"I've already spoken to City and they're happy to extend my deal, but I've said I just want to see how many games I play this season.

"I don't ever want to leave Manchester City with the way it's going, but it's one of those where you have to look at your career and say: 'Are you playing enough?' and come the end of the season I'll do that. Hopefully I'll have played enough."

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