Micah Richards dished out some honest advice for young Chelsea star Billy Gilmour – urging the teenager not to follow his own example.
Teenage midfielder Gilmour impressed on his first Premier League start in Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Everton on Sunday – five days after he shone in the Blue’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool .
But Richards delivered a cautionary tale to the 18-year-old while working as a pundit on Sky Sports, as he recalled the way his own career faded after a bright start.
And the former Manchester City right-back ended up becoming embroiled in a hilarious studio exchange with fellow pundit Roy Keane.
Richards said: “I burst on to the scene and I was going to be the next best thing.
(Image: Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
“I won a Premier League which is the best thing you can ever do.
“I won the FA Cup and I got to play for a team that I loved, but I underachieved.”
While Richards was making a serious point, an exchange with Keane then ensued which gave colleagues Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp a laugh.
Former Manchester United midfielder Keane was quick to respond to Richards’ claims, saying: “Did you burst onto the scene?”
Richards said, “Do you not remember that?” to which Keane replied, “very few defenders burst onto the scene”.
But Richards was having none of it, as he hit back: “I played for England at 18, youngest ever defender to play for England.
“I would say that’s bursting onto the scene.”
The 31-year-old, who also played for Fiorentina and Aston Villa before being forced to retire due to injury, also had some amusing banter with Neville.
Richards, who played in the same position as Neville, recalled a picture of him in England kit which appeared in a newspaper with a headline saying the former United defender wouldn’t be getting his shirt back.
The ex-City man claimed Neville didn’t speak to him the next time he was called up for England duty.
But Neville replied: “I did get the shirt back though.”
