Micah Richards surprises Alan Shearer admitting he wants to punch Pablo Zabaleta - 'Smug face'
Ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards left colleague Alan Shearer speechless when he revealed the resentment he held towards former team-mate Pablo Zabaleta
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker were taken aback to learn Micah Richards wants to punch former Manchester City team-mate Pablo Zabaleta in the face.
The revelation emerged on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football, where Joleon Lescott appeared as a guest. And it was during a discussion over Sergio Aguero's iconic decider against QPR to clinch the Premier League crown in 2012 that Richards - who was an unused substitute in that game - revealed all.
Lineker was eager to get Lescott's take on "what it was like actually contributing" to the piece of history, ribbing Richards for his sideline role in the title win. But it was at that point Richards had to intervene with his own anecdote that happened to include the man responsible for his lack of input.
"Before you add to this, Jol. . .Gaz, I was with Zabaleta last night," said the 13-time England international. "We went to a private event with Man City - he's such a lovely guy, but every time I look at him, I just want to punch him!"
The podcast crew burst into hysterics at the admission, with Shearer repeating the words back to Richards in disbelief. But the retired right-back was only too happy to go into further detail, adding: "Punch him in his smug, little face. Honest to god!"
Former Argentina international Zabaleta was of course responsible for displacing Richards at the Etihad Stadium, where the pair were team-mates for seven years. The South American split his time between right-back, left-back and midfield after joining City from Espanyol in 2008 but went on to become a more permanent fixture on the right side of defence.
That left City academy graduate Richards somewhat in the cold as the Englishman made just 18 appearances for City across two campaigns before being sent on loan to Fiorentina in 2014. And Zabaleta's involvement meant Richards didn't meet the threshold to earn winner's medals in for City's triumphs in the Premier League nor the League Cup that year.
Not that Richards bears any grudge, of course, given more than a decade has passed since Richards' last appearance for the Sky Blues. But he's at least able to laugh off the rivalry in the present day – and has done on plenty of occasions in the past – albeit with some urge to get his revenge.
Both former colleagues remain involved with football today, with Richards becoming one of the UK's most beloved and active pundits. Zabaleta, meanwhile, has become a pundit himself and made appearances on Match of the Day, while he's currently serving under another former City team-mate, Sylvinho, as assistant coach for Albania's national team.
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