Bayern newcomer irritated by interest from Munich - "I literally didn't believe it"
Created: 02/22/2022, 17:28
By: Antonio Jose Riether
Omar Richards had not expected an offer from Munich in the summer.
© MIS/imago-images
From the second English division to the Champions League.
Defender Omar Richards experienced this rise, although he almost didn't believe his advisor when he told him about the interest from Munich.
Munich – The transfer activities of FC Bayern* were quite manageable last summer.
In addition to the two double-digit million transfers from Leipzig's Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer and the return of Sven Ulreich, the Munich team caused amazement with a highly unusual commitment.
Omar Richards*, a second division professional from England with no first division experience, was signed for the left full-back position.
Now he spoke to the British newspaper
The Times
about the unexpected offer from Munich.
FC Bayern: Defender Omar Richards on his departure from Reading - "Was really confused"
Just over 100 competitive appearances for the English second division FC Reading were probably reason enough for Bayern* to guide the 24-year-old free transfer to the Isar.
The record champions were particularly well served by the fact that Reading was unable to offer the Londoner a contract extension due to financial deficits.
“I don't want to say anything bad about Reading.
But now there's a little bit more out there about what was going on back then and I think it explains why I wasn't offered a contract," Richards said of his situation at Reading.
"When I was there and when it happened, I didn't understand what was going on and I was really confused," he told the
Times
.
In the midst of uncertainty about the future, however, the offer came from Munich that changed everything.
Even if Richards reacted to the request with a certain amount of skepticism.
FC Bayern: Omar Richards didn't believe advisors - "I thought: That can't be true"
Speaking to the daily, the former England Under-21 international went back to the moment when he first found out that the German champions were interested.
"Then my agent called and said Bayern Munich was watching me, they were interested and I was like, 'What?
That can not be true.'
I almost choked him.
I literally didn't believe it until I did a 'Zoom' conversation with them," the Brit recalled.
"From the Championship
(English second division, note)
to the Champions League* is crazy," he summarized his unexpected promotion.
He also remembered the first encounter with the Bayern stars in a meeting room.
“I sat in there and got there early.
All these people, all these names, people that I'd seen on TV and played 'FIFA' with,
would
walk past me and give me a high five and I'd be like, 'What's going on here ?
I must be in a dream or something,'" Richards said.
FC Bayern: Omar Richards on his early days in Munich - "It's still new to me"
In the star ensemble of coach Julian Nagelsmann*, the inconspicuous Englishman is still a bit lost, in the current season he has been on the field in 14 games across all competitions.
"I'm in a team with superstars and some of the best players and this is new to me.
But I'm in the right place and I'm getting better every day," says Richards, who last started against Greuther Fürth*.
He signed a contract with FC Bayern in the summer until 2025, so he still has time to develop.
(ajr) *tz.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
