http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006600153,00.htmlJOSE MOURINHO had to be persuaded by his senior players that Micah Richards is good enough to play for Chelsea.
Blues boss Mourinho has been monitoring the Manchester City defender for a year — and tried to buy him last summer.
City refused Chelsea’s £6million offer but it was Mourinho’s England internationals who told him the 18-year-old was worth having at any price — now put at a monster £18m.
Richards made his full England debut against Holland in Amsterdam last month and Mourinho canvassed the opinion of John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole about him on their return.
He received glowing reports and was told Richards is the real deal.
While he may have waited until the summer to buy him, the injury to John Terry and his team’s defensive frailty has forced the issue.
For Richards, the prospect of becoming an instant first-choice for the champions and making his name at Stamford Bridge could be too great a temptation to resist.
The youngster’s family and advisors have been wary of Chelsea’s interest, having seen Shaun Wright-Phillips take the same path from Manchester only to end up on the bench.
But Mourinho has made it clear Richards will deputise for Terry in central defence and then solve his problem right-back position for the rest of the season.
