At any height, FCB newcomer Omar Richards "ready as soon as the club needs me"
New Bayern left-back Omar Richards finds himself thrust into the spotlight a bit earlier than expected. Knowing that he might soon feature in the starting XI for the German giants, a few German journalists sought clarification on a "small matter".
Long a target transfer of Germany's mighty Bayern München, 23-year-old England U21 international Omar Richards was always poised to take a big step from the English Championship to a Champions' League club. With it now confirmed that both Lucas Hernandez and Alphonso Davies are doubts for Bayern's opening Pokal match and the opening rounds of the 2021/22 Bundesliga, it may very well be the case that the former Reading Royal is actually the FCB's starting left-back.
With German football journalists keeping a closer eye on Richards at Bayern's training camp, something didn't quite fit. Listed as 1.85 meters (approximately 6"1'), Richards barely came up to the shoulder of fellow newcomer Dayot Upamecano. With a smile and a shrug, Richards laughed off the discrepancy during the presser in which both he and Upamecano were introduced on Tuesday.
"I've heard a lot about it," Richards conceded when asked how all internet platforms and the FC Bayern homepage listed him as tall as Upamecano, "Google must have given me the wrong numbers. My height is closer to 1.72 meters (approximately 5"8'), definitely not 1.85."
Bayern and German footballing magazine Kicker were quick to rectify the matter on their web portals. The South London native spoke of admiration for his new club and said he was "ready as soon as the club needs me".
Richards read a brief prepared statement in German before answering subsequent questions in English.