Over the years, it seems like Pep Guardiola and Jack Grealish have had their fair share of ups and downs.
In December 2023, Grealish lauded Guardiola as “the best manager in the world” as he seemed content with life at Manchester City.
Before the 2024 FA Cup final, Pep Guardiola held a private chat with Grealish where the pair agreed that the 2024/2025 season was one where it was high-time the 29-year-old returned to his best after a disappointing campaign.
However, now, it seems like things have changed between the pair.
Guardiola went on a rant about Grealish as he was frustrated after the Catalan boss was questioned about why he left the 29-year-old out of his matchday squad after City’s 2-0 win over Fulham in May.
Gabriel Agbonlahor blasts Pep Guardiola after not clearing up Jack Grealish’s future
On talkSPORT, Pep Guardiola’s recent comments about Jack Grealish were aired where the two-time treble-winning manager suggested it would be best for him to leave Manchester City to play regular football: “A conversation between him and the club, they decided the best, so Jack is an exceptional player, the only reason why he didn’t play last season is of course, my decisions, we decided that he has to play!”
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Guardiola continued: “And the club was honest, he’s honest so there was incredible love and respect but we decided, he should stay at a place where he can play and come back to the player that was in the year of the treble and during all his career at Aston Villa.”
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“Without him, it would have been impossible or [it] would have been more difficult without him to achieve what we did in the treble season. But the fact is the last two seasons, he didn’t play much minutes and he has to come back to play and have the butterflies in his stomach that he can play every three days and show the quality he has.”
When asked whether Grealish will get such minutes elsewhere or at Manchester City to get a hint about his future, Pep Guardiola replied: “No, no. no. I don’t know.”
However, Gabriel Agbonlahor went on to slate Guardiola on talkSPORT for not clarifying Grealish’s future and praising him just so that clubs line up in numbers to sign him: “We’re not daft, he’s waffling a bit there, Pep, let’s be honest, you’ve left him out of this Club World Cup because you don’t want him. Don’t try and say you’ve [Grealish] has a future so that clubs out there are thinking, ‘okay, we have to pay the big money’ because they’ll pay less if they know he’s 100 per cent done at City.”
“So, he’s doing it for that reason only, Jack isn’t a part of his plans and clubs out there will know that, so you’re not going to get the money you want, Pep.”
Clubs that want to sign Jack Grealish
Several clubs seem keen to take a chance on the three-time Premier League winner.
As Manchester City are prepared to sell Grealish, the likes of Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan and Newcastle United have all been keen on his signature.
However, Tottenham are unwilling to pay Grealish’s wages as it seems like his career is at a standstill now.
Manchester City offered Grealish to Napoli but they are focused on signing Jadon Sancho on loan or as a permanent addition, with the former Villa superstar’s £300,000-a-week wages also believed to be an issue for them.
While Gabriel Agbonlahor might feel Pep Guardiola’s comments were an attempt to eke out the highest possible fee for Grealish, the reality is that he must play regularly next season.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks ponderous at Craven Cottage.
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Otherwise, his international career could be set to come to a premature end and the decorated wideman might unable to play for an elite club again.
Grealish’s summer plans will be focused on finding his next destination and keeping fit ahead of next season.