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Manchester City’s Micah Richards joins Fiorentina on a season’s loan Álvaro Negredo and Micah Richards leave Manchester City on loan
(35 minutes later)
Micah Richards has joined Fiorentina on a season-long loan, while Álvaro Negredo has completed an initial loan move to Valencia.Micah Richards has joined Fiorentina on a season-long loan, while Álvaro Negredo has completed an initial loan move to Valencia.
Richards is City’s longest-serving player, making 245 appearances since his debut in 2005, but has struggled for game time in recent seasons having been usurped at both right-back and centre-half.Richards is City’s longest-serving player, making 245 appearances since his debut in 2005, but has struggled for game time in recent seasons having been usurped at both right-back and centre-half.
The 26-year-old has reluctantly accepted he needs to leave the club due to the form of Pablo Zabaleta and the summer arrival of Bacary Sagna, and decided to turn down City’s offer of a new contract and pay rise in April.The 26-year-old has reluctantly accepted he needs to leave the club due to the form of Pablo Zabaleta and the summer arrival of Bacary Sagna, and decided to turn down City’s offer of a new contract and pay rise in April.
Having travelled to Florence for a medical over the weekend, he has now joined La Viola until the end of the current campaign, with the Italian side having the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.Having travelled to Florence for a medical over the weekend, he has now joined La Viola until the end of the current campaign, with the Italian side having the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
Negredo’s move to Valencia includes an obligation for the Spanish side to buy the player at the end of the season.Negredo’s move to Valencia includes an obligation for the Spanish side to buy the player at the end of the season.
The 29-year-old impressed in what proved to be his only season in Manchester but was reportedly keen to return to his homeland, leaving the City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, with Sergio Agüero, Edin Dzeko and Steven Jovetic as his options in attack.The 29-year-old impressed in what proved to be his only season in Manchester but was reportedly keen to return to his homeland, leaving the City manager, Manuel Pellegrini, with Sergio Agüero, Edin Dzeko and Steven Jovetic as his options in attack.
City paid £20m to bring the forward from Sevilla last summer after his previous spells with Real Madrid’s ‘B’ team and Almería.City paid £20m to bring the forward from Sevilla last summer after his previous spells with Real Madrid’s ‘B’ team and Almería.
The Primera Division club issued a statement that read: “Valencia Football Club has reached an agreement with Manchester City Football Club for the loan, with an option to compulsory purchase, the Spanish international striker Álvaro Negredo, considered one of the best attackers of the national and European football.The Primera Division club issued a statement that read: “Valencia Football Club has reached an agreement with Manchester City Football Club for the loan, with an option to compulsory purchase, the Spanish international striker Álvaro Negredo, considered one of the best attackers of the national and European football.
“The footballer with Valencian family will be presented tomorrow at the Mestalla. The club invites all Valencianistas to attend the presentation.”“The footballer with Valencian family will be presented tomorrow at the Mestalla. The club invites all Valencianistas to attend the presentation.”