Jack Grealish has been left out of Manchester City's 27-man squad for the Club World Cup.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola talks with Jack Grealish on the touchline
Guardiola (left) gave Grealish (right) just seven Premier League starts last season
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Pep Guardiola has indicated that Jack Grealish still has a future with Manchester City despite his absence from the Club World Cup squad.
The omission of Grealish, who arrived at Etihad Stadium in a £100 million transfer and was pivotal in City’s 2023 treble win, took many by surprise as City prepare for their summer tournament in the United States.
Following a challenging 2024-25 season where Grealish started just seven Premier League matches, Guardiola has said the decision was based on giving the England international time to work on his game.
Speaking at a press conference, the City boss said: "He had a conversation with the club and decided the best.
"Jack is an exceptional player but he didn't (play a lot). We decided he has to play.
"We're honest and he's honest. We decided the best was to stay (behind) and find that he can play, that he can come back to the player of the year of the treble and all his career at Aston Villa.
"But the fact is he didn't play much minutes the last two seasons. He has to come back to play and have the butterflies in his stomach that he can play every three days and show again the quality that he has.
"We decided don't come here. What happens I don't know but if he doesn't (leave) he is a player for Man City and he will be back."
However, Guardiola firmly dismissed the notion that Grealish had lost his drive for football but emphasised the need for him to prove he is worth a place in his side: "The reason he didn't play is my decisions. Football is competing with each other – not just Jack, all of them.
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"They compete (for) who deserves to play. The butterflies are an example of the tension and they happen for all the players.
"Over the last two years he didn't play much and I take responsibility for that, but he has to play and we reflected that it was better not to come here."
However, Guardiola offered no insight about Kyle Walker's future amid speculation linking him with Everton: "I don't have any news. It's the same case for Jack. About the links with other teams, you have to ask (director of football) Hugo (Viana)."