Micah Richards has stated that Jack Clarke has ‘not kicked a ball’ since leaving Leeds United for Tottenham, as he told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport.
The former right-back claimed that Clarke was ‘outstanding’ in the colours of Leeds and has since played only four games for Spurs in all competitions.
After a breakthrough campaign at Elland Road, those in North London paid £10 million for Clarke’s talents during the summer of 2019 (BBC Sport), whilst Leeds were in the Championship.
He was loaned straight back to the Yorkshire club, but he was re-called in January, after struggling for game time under Marcelo Bielsa.
In truth, since then, it has gone downhill for the 20-year-old, who has had to resort to Premier League 2 football, constant visits to the treatment room and a loan spell at Stoke last season.
Richards spoke about Clarke’s situation and how he has hardly played since leaving his boyhood club.
“Young Jack Clarke, he was outstanding at Leeds,” said Richards. “£10 million, they paid for him.
“He’s not kicked a ball.”
In the footballing world today, £10 million isn’t much, but it is when you pay that amount for a teenager, at the time.
Leeds probably wouldn’t take Clarke back, that’s how bad things have become for him and it seems as though he has to find a loan deal to kick start his career.
Moving to the Championship would be the ideal move, or trying his utmost best, during these next few months, to impress his new manager Antonio Conte.
Either way, it was probably a mistake from Clarke to leave the Whites because he did end up missing Leeds’ promotion party and their first season back in the Premier League.
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