“Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason he didn’t play last season was, of course, my decisions. Now, we’ve decided he needs to play. The club was honest, and he was honest.”
Guardiola emphasised Grealish’s importance to the squad during City’s treble-winning campaign in 2022-23 and influence during his time at Aston Villa. However, he acknowledged the past two seasons have seen the player struggle for consistency.
“He has incredible respect and love for the team,” Guardiola said. “We decided it’s best for him to stay in Manchester, find a place where he can feel like playing again and rediscover the form he showed in the year of the treble or during his time at Villa.