Manchester City v Real Madrid C.F. - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off First Leg
Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer (Picture: Getty)
Alan Shearer has warned Jack Grealish his ‘time is up’ at Manchester Cityand says his FA Cup final snub was further proof that Pep Guardiola is ‘done’ with the England star.
Grealish has endured a frustrating season at the Etihad Stadium, starting just seven of Man City’s 36 Premier League games.
That is party down to fitness problems but Guardiola has often overlooked Grealish even when he has been fit.
Manchester City trailed Crystal Palace for well over an hour in Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat but Grealish was never summoned by Guardiola, who instead opted to throw on 19-year-old debutant Claudio Echeverri in the 76th minute and 34-year-old Ilkay Gundogan late on.
Shearer believes that was the final nail in the coffin for Grealish’s Manchester City career and says he a summer move would be in the best interest of all parties.
Get personalised updates on Manchester City every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
Grealish became the most expensive British signing of all time when he completed a £100m move from Aston Villa to Man City in 2021.
The 29-year-old has lifted Premier League and Champions League trophies at the Etihad but his influence has been on the decline for some time.
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final
Jack Grealish did not feature in Man City’s FA Cup final defeat (Picture: Getty)
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer said: ‘His time is up at Man City. He has to leave.
‘For Pep Guardiola to bring on a debutant, a young boy, and Gundogan rather than Jack Grealish when Man City are desperate for a goal… his time is up.
‘He’s done at Man City, he has to leave. For whatever reason Pep is done with him, he doesn’t like him. His time is up, it really is.’
Shearer believes it is a similar story for Manchester City midfielder and England U21 star James McAtee.
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola (Picture: Getty)
The 22-year-old has been offered just three starts in the Premier League this season after spending two productive years on loan at Sheffield United.
‘He’s not getting in the team either, he’s another one who’s going to have to leave,’ Shearer said of McAtee.
Ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards added: ‘James McAtee is a good player.
‘I don’t know if he’s really to start week in, week out but I’m telling you, he’s probably not the same level as Cole Palmer but he will go somewhere and light it up.
Crystal Palace v Manchester City - Emirates FA Cup Final
Crystal Palace stunned Man City at Wembley (Picture: Getty)
‘Man City might kick themselves if they let him go because he’s got something, he’s got something special.’
While Manchester City failed to lift the FA Cup, there were jubilant scenes at Wembley as Crystal Palace secured the first major trophy in their history.
Writing in a column for BBC Sport, Shearer added: ‘First Newcastle, now Crystal Palace. 2025 is the year of the underdog – and I love it!
‘I know exactly how the Palace fans felt after seeing their side beat Manchester City, because I was there myself only a few weeks ago when Newcastle won the Carabao Cup final.
‘Like them, I had waited my entire life to see my team win a major trophy. For Palace supporters this is their first piece of silverware in their history and, from where I was doing my co-commentary at Wembley, I could tell how much it meant to them.
‘Now this is their moment and they should absolutely make the most of it – I know I did when it was finally Newcastle’s turn to win something.
‘They will have to decide who they sell, or keep, in the summer because they have got some very talented players who other clubs may try to sign, but that’s not something they need to think about now.
‘Instead, everyone connected to the club can simply revel in the glory of being FA Cup winners for the first time. It’s an amazing achievement.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Crystal Palace give update after two stars were hospitalised after FA Cup final win
MORE: Mikel Arteta tells Arsenal to sign Chelsea flop ahead of Liverpool and Man Utd
MORE: Arsenal suffer latest defensive injury blow as star player set to undergo surgery