Micah Richards has admitted that the sale of a certain player from Manchester City last summer left him “devastated.”
Previously, the pundit had claimed that Riyad Mahrez’s exit in the summer was a blow for City.
Less than a month ago, Arsene Wenger stated that Erling Haaland was missing Ilkay Gundogan’s presence in the side.
Micah Richards says he was “devastated” when Man City sold one player
At different points of the season, Manchester City did look like they were missing some of the top players they had decided to let go in the summer.
Any team would struggle to replace players like Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte, whose spells will be looked back at fondly by the club’s fanbase.
However, Pep Guardiola’s men have managed to find a way to remain the team to beat in the Premier League, which is perhaps a testament to the great man’s fantastic coaching.
Regardless, Micah Richards has reflected on feeling gutted when Manchester City sold Cole Palmer last summer.
“I was devastated when he left and I think it’s because I have seen him come through the youth and I knew how good he was”, he said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
Alan Shearer asked: “Did you think he was as good as what he’s shown?”
Richards replied: “I saw that, yes. But the other side to his game in terms of the pressing, I didn’t think he would fit into the Man City system, because he’s just a technical genius, like [Phil] Foden, he’s got that but he can run about, I think that’s the difference.”
Reece James, much like Micah Richards seems to hold Cole Palmer in high regard, praising the former Manchester City attacker for being “one of the best in the world.”
Micah Richards has every reason to be gutted about Cole Palmer
In our view, Micah Richards had every reason to be disappointed when Manchester City let Cole Palmer leave at the time and is perhaps still justifiably upset about the deal.
The £42.5 million (BBC Sport) man has scored 21 Premier League goals in what has been a season where his rise has surpassed all expectations.
An argument can be made that Palmer should start for England at Euro 2024; such is the standard he has played at for Chelsea.
Under Pep Guardiola’s guidance and in a superior City side, the Wythenshawe-born winger would have likely wreaked havoc this season.
City certainly have lost a gem of a player from their ranks, who is only going to get better and better.