Micah Richards brands £40m reported Man City target ‘outstanding’

Micah Richards brands £40m reported Man City target ‘outstanding’

Micah Richards lauded a player linked with Manchester City at Euro 2024 whose side really missed him on Saturday.

It has been a very good tournament so far out in Germany, with many goals being scored and a lot of entertaining matches being played out.
Switzerland and Germany became the first nations to book their places in the quarter-finals on Saturday, as they beat Italy and Denmark respectively.

Switzerland were worthy winners against the Italians, with Manuel Akanji an absolute rock at the back. they will prove tricky customers for England.

Italy were extremely poor, and rarely troubled their opponents.

Arguably, they really missed Riccardo Calafiori, who was suspended for the game.
Recently, it was claimed that Manchester City were ‘curious’ about Riccardo Calafiori, who has just enjoyed a sensational season with Bologna.

Calafiori doesn’t have much experience internationally, but he did not give that impression across his three appearances out in Germany.

Calafiori, alongside Alessandro Bastoni, was superb at the back for Italy in the group stages, playing every minute.

Ahead of Saturday’s game between Switzerland and Italy, Calafiori was mentioned by Micah Richards as the former City man analysed where Switzerland could hurt their opponents.

He noted that the Italian team took a lot of risks.

Calafiori and Bastoni are players who will happily take the ball, ready to face a high press.

Calafiori is very comfortable on the ball, and Richards said of him when analysing his last-gasp assist against Croatia: “When you’ve got a player like Calafiori, absolutely outstanding. This is why, this is risk and reward that you have. A centre-back stepping out, obviously he is missing tonight.
This goal here, just to top it off. Absolutely outstanding.”

Rio Ferdinand added: “Micah, that’s why you take risks. That’s the reward that you can get.”

Richards also said earlier this week that he himself had heard City might be keen on Calafiori.
It doesn’t really seem as though City really need Calafiori at the moment, with Pep Guardiola having some fantastic left-sided players in Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol. Akanji can also do a job on the left.

But he definitely feels like someone who would excel in this current City side.

The star, thought to be valued at at least £40 million, was superb last season for Genoa, and finished as the highest-assisting central defender in Serie A as a result of his bravery and risk-taking on the ball.

Pep loves ball retention, but he always loves it when players are bold and break the lines.

Aymeric Laporte was absolutely brilliant at it when he was at City, and no one has really done it to his high standard since the Spaniard left.

A move to City is highly unlikely as things currently stand, but what a signing he would be.

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