Micah Richards appeared to give away the team that he really supports after watching Arsenal knock Real Madrid out of the Champions League on Wednesday.
Richards’ allegiance to a particular club has been a topic of conversation for a number of years given he was born in Birmingham, but then moved up north to join Leeds United’s academy before moving on to Oldham and then Manchester City.
Richards broke into City’s senior side and spent 10 years in the first team – with just one season on loan at Fiorentina during this time – before moving back to the Midlands to finish his career at Aston Villa.
But he has also previously hinted that he has a soft spot for Arsenal, and that came to the fore on Wednesday night when he had a post-match chat with Bukayo Saka for CBS Sports.
Addressing Saka through the TV screen, Richards said: ‘Saka! (It’s) Big Meeks, Uncle Meeks! You know I love you, I love you so much!
‘What a player, what a guy. Come on, let’s bring it home now, eh?’
Micah Richards appeared to give up hiding that he is an Arsenal fan as he showered Bukayo Saka with praise
Saka burst into laughter as Richards urged him to bring the Champions League trophy ‘home’
Saka burst into laughter after being showered with praise, while Richards’ fellow pundit Thierry Henry appeared confused as he asked the ex-City star: ‘Are you an Arsenal fan or not?’
‘Sometimes,’ Richards sheepishly replied.
He may not have fully committed with his response to Henry, but Richards telling Saka to ‘bring it home’ gave a huge indication that he is really an Arsenal supporter.
Earlier this year, Richards shockingly revealed on A League Of Their Own that he supports two Premier League clubs, leading to him being ridiculed by former boxing world champion and Everton super-fan Tony Bellew.
Asked by Bellew which team he follows, Richards said: ‘Who do I support? Well, depends if I’m on air or off air.’
Bellew shot back: ‘Well, we are on air then tell us the truth.
Richards replied: ‘Man City’.
The show’s host Romesh Ranganathan then added: ‘Off air: Arsenal!’
‘Yes!’ Richards confirmed.
Richards has previously claimed he also supports Man City, but suggested they are not a ‘big team’ last month
Richards’ remark angered City fans after he spent a decade at the club and won multiple trophies with them, including the FA Cup in 2011 (pictured)
Richards may be adamant that he also supports City, but he angered his old club’s fans last month during his FA Cup punditry for the BBC.
Following Fulham’s last-16 penalty shootout win over Manchester United, Richards stated: ‘It’s very open now, what a chance for a team to go and win it. All the big teams are out.’
City supporters were furious that he had suggested Pep Guardiola’s side are not a ‘big team’, and hit out at their ex-player on social media.
City are still in the competition and will face Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals later this month, while Aston Villa take on Crystal Palace in the other last-four tie.
