Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

Richards hit with swine flu

11 Jul 2009 - 10:40:56

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Manchester City and England star Micah Richards has been diagnosed as the first top-flight footballer to have contracted swine flue.

The coveted defender, a transfer target of Arsenal and Everton in recent weeks, has picked up the illness while on holiday in Cyprus and must remain in the country until he has fully recovered.

"At first I thought it was a really bad chest infection, or maybe alcohol poisoning," he told The Sun.

"I felt so weak that I couldn't move or eat. My friends had to bring me drinks in bed.

"When I was told I had swine flu all sorts of things started going through my mind. You see on the news people dying of it.

"My club have been very understanding. I'll get some stick from the lads when I do return - they'll probably all turn up to training in surgical masks."