Jack Grealish’s journey at Manchester City seems to be reaching a crossroads this summer.
After struggling to secure regular playing time during the past season, it looks like the 29-year-old winger could be on his way out of the Etihad Stadium.
Despite the big expectations and hefty £100 million transfer fee paid in 2021, Grealish has found it tough to truly cement his place in Pep Guardiola’s star-studded lineup.
Left Out of Club World Cup Squad and Social Media Reaction
The latest blow came when Grealish was omitted from Manchester City’s squad for the Club World Cup.
This exclusion has opened the door for him and his team to focus on finding a new club, with the player keen on forcing his way back into England’s World Cup plans.
Fans and pundits quickly took to social media to react—some offering support, while others criticized his form.
The former Aston Villa star didn’t stay silent for long and decided to respond directly to his critics online.
Grealish Defends Himself Online Amid Speculation
One notable moment was when Grealish replied to talkSPORT’s post about former Villa player Gabby Agbonlahor criticizing Guardiola’s treatment of him.
Grealish fired back with a witty comeback: “What u want me to do score a [hat-trick] in 20 [minutes]?”
He also jumped into a back-and-forth on X (formerly Twitter), where some users debated his recent performances.
When someone commented that Grealish had been poor for a while, he pushed back by highlighting his recent goal-scoring form: “Haha, I’ve been bad lately? Score 3 goals in my last 3 appearances over 45 mins but okie dokie love x.”
What’s Next for Grealish: Transfer or Loan?
With two years left on his lucrative £300,000-a-week contract, both Grealish and City face a tricky situation.
Neither party wants a repeat of this season’s struggles.
While clubs across England and Europe have reportedly shown interest, the current financial climate means a permanent transfer might be difficult.
Many teams are watching their budgets closely, so a loan deal seems like the most likely option for a player who once broke British transfer records.
Guardiola Acknowledges Situation, Promises to Find Solution
After Grealish was left out of City’s final Premier League game of the season at Fulham, Pep Guardiola commented that the club would work closely with Grealish and his representatives to find a solution beneficial to everyone involved.
It’s clear that while the chapter at City may be closing, the talented winger’s career is far from over — and plenty of fans will be watching closely to see where he lands next.