Aston Villa assistant Ray Wilkins has said that manager Tim Sherwood has pulled off a coup by signing Micah Richards.
The 26-year-old defender will officially become a Villa player on July 1 after joining the Midlanders on a Bosman transfer from Manchester City.
Wilkins worked with the former England international during his time with the Under-21 side and he believes that Richards will be a success at Villa Park.
"He's had a couple of difficult seasons at Fiorentina after starting about eight or nine games but when players go abroad and learn their trade it helps," Wilkins told the Birmingham Mail.
"What we might see is a better player now who is more tactically aware. He can play comfortably at right full-back and centre-back.
"At 26 years of age. I think the business that Tim did there was phenomenal."
City loaned Richards out to Fiorentina last term.
