Jack Grealish of Manchester City (R) looks on during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Manchester Cit
Jack Grealish of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and City
The love affair between Aston Villa and Jack Grealish looked to have been an unusually enduring one having survived his decision to leave Villa Park in pursuit of trophies at Manchester City.
Boyhood Villan Grealish had more than done his bit for the club, returning them from the Championship to the Premier League and helping them stabilise back in the top flight.
That was only cemented by the suggestion that he wanted the buy-out clause in what turned out to be his last Villa contract to be one that protected the club he supports.
And so it had gone along fairly well until last Saturday when Grealish was part of a City team that was defeated 2-1 by Unai Emery’s men. Inevitably that led to a reaction from the home crowd – and response from Grealish himself.
This is what our writers make of it.
Related Articles
Jack Grealish’s mistake, ex-striker fuming, Aston Villa response and Fabian Delph comparison
What Jack Grealish really thinks of Aston Villa Football Club
John Townley
On Saturday it was made abundantly clear that he is now just another former player to a significant section of the Villa fanbase - and therefore fair game when his new club are getting a pasting at the hands of his old one.
Jack wouldn’t have woken up today planning to stir anything up against fans who once adored him. No footballer should be subjected to abuse because they’re literally doing their job.
However it comes with the territory that players will get stick, and usually Jack deals with that well. If anything, he thrived on it wearing claret and blue. You’d just hope that whatever was aimed at him at Villa Park didn’t cross a line.
Without the full context it’s hard to judge the situation, but what we have got is a picture of boyhood Villa fan Grealish making a gesture back at supporters alluding to the fact he’s won three Premier League titles with City. It’s not AI and this picture will be going nowhere.
Whether Jack one day returns to the club or not, it will be there for good and therefore that’s a stain. Many fans got over him leaving for City back in the summer of 2021, but that picture will do him no favours winning back a certain section of supporters.
Dan Rolinson
Malachi Obrey
If Saturday’s antics had been told to this time five years ago, you would struggle to find any Villa fans who would not be incredibly saddened by both Grealish’s reception and his reaction.
Of course, it is a shame that he traded legendary status for some trophies with the machine-like Manchester City. Jack did a lot of for the club though - Villa certainly would not be where they are now without him or his sale - and so the boos always seem unjust from that perspective.
However, as a professional, his reaction is disappointing and puts a tough stain on whatever legacy he still has at Villa Park.
Brian Dick
I’ve always been quite impressed at how Jack has maintained his relationship with Villa fans since he left the club in 2021.
He has always, always spoken fondly about the club and never hidden the fact that even though he’s wearing another’s shirt he remains Claret & Blue through and through.
Clearly that took something of a nosedive at the weekend but I think it’s important to remember that football’s narrative moves on very, very quickly. This storm in a teacup will soon be forgotten.
When Jack finally does hang up his boots and returns to Villa Park he’ll remain a hero to many. If he ever re-signs for the club, which might not seem very likely right now, it’ll be one awkward question at a press conference or one post on social media and all will be forgiven. Grealish’s affection for Villa – and probably vice versa – will deeper than one family spat.
Joseph Chapman
Perhaps the reaction was ill advised, perhaps it was justified. Does Jack Grealish deserve the boos from those who used to idolise him? Not for me. I think any genuine Villa supporter knows that the player himself is also a fan.
The history of football is littered with great players who never had the CV or the trophy cabinet to reflect their talent, and three summers ago the player himself had to make a difficult choice.
He didn’t go back on his word, he didn’t bad mouth Villa - he wanted to further his career and achieve things that, in that moment, Villa were much further from being able to offer him than, ironically, they currently are.
Maybe the gesture to fans was petty, and born out of a wider frustration with his and his team’s form, but I can think of a handful of ex-Villans who’d be more befitting the reception Grealish received. Ask yourself this - would you boo Christian Benteke?
Keith Wales
Jack Grealish is a copper-bottomed Aston Villa hero. Yes, he will always have his detractors - anyone with a character invites as much good press as bad. But he is a good guy at heart, he loves Villa, and he is only playing elsewhere because his ambition outstripped that of his hometown club - then if not now.
So he had a bad day “at the office” on Saturday, his Manchester City side a pale shadow of the team that have helped Grealish line his trophy cabinet with more silverware than he can ever have dreamed of over the past three years.
Was he right to gesture to his old fans who were booing him? Probably not, but it was not the most heinous reaction ever seen on a football pitch. Were the fans right to boo him in the first place?
Again no, but what do you expect from the lowest common denominator in any football crowd. Let’s hope it is all forgotten before the week is out. It should be, but I have a feeling this is a day that will come back to haunt poor Jack again and again.
Has Jack's relationship with Villa been damaged? Have your say here
The latest Villa headlines sent straight to your phone
Join our Aston Villa WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just clickon this link and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. It's a free service. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from our Villa writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Villa news. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click 'Exit Group'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. Click here to read ourPrivacy Notice