Aston Villa defender Micah Richards has insisted that he joined the club because they were able to offer him more playing time than Manchester City.

Richards recently linked up with Tim Sherwood at Villa Park on a Bosman deal, after spending last season on loan in Italy at Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

"I got offered a four or five-year deal and the manager said he wanted me to stay," said Richards, according to the Daily Star.

"I just said 'I'm not playing enough.' I was picking up hamstring injuries because I wasn't playing enough. James [Milner] was the same. He got offered god knows how much money to sign a new deal and stay but it doesn't matter.

"If you get offered somewhere where you can play regularly you've got to take it. I'm not going to sit on the bench or stay at home at weekends just for more money. That's not what I'm about."

Richards was recently announced as Villa's new captain for the coming season.