Micah Richards' seven-word summary of target Man Utd didn't sign speaks volumes

02 February 2024 , 22:53

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Micah Richards has hailed Michael Olise (Image: The Rest Is Football/YouTube)

Micah Richards believes Crystal Palace star Michael Olise is "going to be world-class" one day, amid links with a move away from Selhurst Park and to Manchester United.

Chelsea were also in for the 22-year-old last summer and activated his £35million release clause, but Olise ultimately decided to remain at Palace and signed a new four-year contract. However, Mirror Football understands that the deal includes a release clause in the region of £60m which is due to come into effect next summer.

Manchester United are very interested in Olise, along with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. However, none of those teams made a move for the former Reading player in the January transfer window.

And it seems Olise will be the subject of a transfer battle at the end of the season when his release clause is active, with former Premier League winner Richards tipping him for stardom. "He is going to be world-class," Richards said of Olise on The Rest is Football podcast.

"He's just one of them young players who need to be guided in the right way when he leaves Palace, no disrespect to Palace fans, they probably want that money at some stage to rebuild anyway.

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"But when he leaves, if he picks the right team where he's allowed to express himself, he's going to be a superstar. He's that good. I remember watching him at the Etihad a couple of seasons ago.

"It's not just his dribbling, it's his decision-making – when to lay off the ball and his first touch is sublime. Yeah, he's going to the very top."

Olise has been linked with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool (Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Tom McIntyre, who played alongside Olise at Reading, told the Athletic in 2021 that he immediately knew the club had a "special" player on their hands as soon as he joined the academy setup at the age of 15.

"From the minute you saw him, you could see that special ability," McIntyre said. "He's so comfortable on the ball. He's so confident, which sets him apart from other decent players I have played with. He wanted to receive the ball in tight areas.

"There'd be times where we were 2-0 up, even in the Championship last year, with five minutes to go, and he's trying to get the ball off the keeper behind the centre-backs. And everyone is shouting 'Get up the pitch, just kick it', and he's trying to get on the ball to show what he could do."

Matthew Cooper