Aston Villa defender Micah Richards is reportedly set to bring an end to his playing career because of injuries.
Aston Villa held talks in 2018 with defender Micah Richards about becoming a free agent, but he is now set to retire from football, according to a report.
The Daily Mail claims that the 30-year-old is heading for retirement when his Villa contract expires in the summer because he is finding it difficult to overcome a knee injury.
It is said that Richards has had a persistent meniscus problem in his right knee, which can swell through exercise, and as a result, he has reluctantly decided to call it a day.
The former Premier League player has not played for Villa since October 2016 – Steve Bruce’s first game in charge of the club – and has not featured in Dean Smith’s plan either following his arrival four months ago.
The report further states that talks were held last year in allowing the senior man to become a free agent, but they were undermined because insurance premiums would not cover Villa, who, therefore were happy to keep him on their books.
The Daily Mail previously claimed that the versatile defender is earning £35,000-a-week at Villa as he has collected over £3 million in wages after his last appearance.
Richards joined the Midlands outfit during the summer of 2016 when Tim Sherwood was in charge of the club, but his reputation with the supporters soon went downhill.
During that Premier League campaign, he played a major part in that infamous Villa side from being relegated to the second tier of English football for the first time in nearly three decades.
Overall, he made only 31 appearances in all competitions in a Villa shirt having represented Manchester City and Italian outfit Fiorentina during his career.
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