City boss Roberto Mancini is not prepared to sell the former England defender, 22, despite him not always being a first choice.
With Germany's World Cup star Jerome Boateng joining from Hamburg for £10.5million, there is even more competition for places at Eastlands.
But a club source insisted: "Micah is a key part of Roberto's plans and is part of the future at City. He will be going nowhere."
Richards' club-mate Joleon Lescott reckons the pain of failure will fire City to glory this time.
Mancini has splashed more than £60m this summer as he looks to challenge for the title and secure a Champions League spot.
Spain's World Cup-winning midfielder David Silva was completing his medical last night before sealing his £24m move from Valencia.
More star names are expected before the big kick-off on August 14.
Lescott, 27, said: "We don't need to make any major changes.
"The experience of missing out on fourth spot last season means we'll try that bit harder.
"Any team can look back and wonder if they had only done this or that.
"It's hard when you drop points to Hull and Burnley at home.
"We beat Chelsea twice to prove we can do it. A lot of our players have come from clubs where they have won things."
Lescott missed half of the season with injuries that also destroyed his World Cup hopes.
He added: "Being injured was difficult but I wasn't overly happy with my performances so I will be looking to find more consistency."
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