**Pep Guardiola has given an insight into the extent with which he has maintained contact with Jack Grealish since he joined Everton on loan for the season.**
Grealish will be ineligible to play as he faces parent club Manchester City on Saturday in an emotional return to the Etihad Stadium for the eight-time Premier League champions’ record signing, who joined City from Aston Villa for £100 million in 2021.
The 30-year-old made just seven Premier League starts for Manchester City last season and decided to join Everton on a season-long loan this summer in a bid to revitalise his career ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup – with a £50 million option to buy next summer.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has told Grealish exactly what he needs to do to stake a claim in the Three Lions squad and the former Chelsea coach is sure to have taken note of Grealish’s high-flying start to life in Merseyside.
Grealish won the Premier League Player of the Month award for August and has quickly established himself as a fan favourite at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with David Moyes handing the former Aston Villa a new lease of life after four years at Manchester City.
The Birmingham-born attacker played a crucial role in Manchester City’s historic 2022-23 treble season and started in each of the Blues’ UEFA Champions League knockout games en route to Guardiola breaking his European hoodoo in England.
However, Grealish has admitted to taking his foot off the gas since the treble and personal issues away from the pitch did derail the England international from producing his best form in the seasons that followed the treble.
Guardiola’s trust in Grealish faded after the treble and the Manchester City record signing was a squad player in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons – eventually leading to all parties agreeing that this summer was an ideal time to part ways.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Grealish’s return to the Etihad Stadium with Everton on Sunday, Guardiola was quizzed on the extent of his contact with the 30-year-old since he left Manchester City on loan in August.
On whether he has spoken to Grealish since he left for Everton, Guardiola said: “Not yet, when he left, but since then, no. Hopefully tomorrow, if he comes to the Etihad (Stadium), I can see him.
“His impact has been massive since day one, starting playing to take back minutes and minutes, and this is what he wanted,” Guardiola added on Grealish’s heroics early into his Everton stint.
“The appreciation that we have with him (Grealish), because he’s a lovely, lovely guy. But for different reasons he didn’t play much minutes (with Manchester City) and he’s back to the real business, playing every game.”
Grealish is expected to be given a welcoming reception by the Etihad Stadium faithful on Saturday and his absence from the matchday squad will not stop the forward from going onto the pitch and greeting with former Manchester City teammates.