Micah Richards, renowned for his punditry roles with Match of the Day, Sky Sports News, and CBS Sports Golazo, remains candid about his ongoing friendly rivalry with former Manchester City teammate Pablo Zabaleta, which has extended from the football pitch to the punditry sofa.
Richards, who left Manchester City in 2015 after losing his starting spot to Zabaleta, continues to compete with him in the media sphere. Despite their shared history and respective retirements, Richards found himself sidelined for coverage of the 2022 World Cup Final, a role that went to Zabaleta due to Argentina’s participation in the final match.
During a recent discussion on The Rest Is Football podcast, Gary Lineker humorously highlighted Zabaleta’s current role as assistant manager for Albania, hinting that Richards might face further competition from his former rival in the punditry world once Albania’s campaign concludes.
Reflecting on past disappointments, Richards jovially lamented, “Who gets to the final? Argentina. Who covers the final? Pablo Zabaleta. Not only did he take my spot on the pitch, but now he’s encroaching on my broadcasting territory too. When will it end?”
Lineker playfully responded, “You better hope Albania goes all the way,” hinting at the competitive banter that underlines their professional relationship.
Looking ahead, Richards faces the challenge of maintaining his position in the punditry lineup, especially as Albania navigates a tough group stage against Spain, Italy, and Croatia.
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