‘Jack Grealish accepts Man City career is over, Aston Villa return perfect’
Jack Grealish is thought to have accepted that his career at Man City is over but he can still turn things around with a “perfect” move back to Aston Villa this summer.
Having been signed for a then-British record fee of £100million [BBC Sport], the former Villa man has endured a bumpy few years in Manchester.
Grealish has enjoyed the benefits of playing for one of the world’s best sides by filling out his trophy cabinet with a Champions League and several Premier League titles.
But on an individual level, the 29-year-old has not found the form that made him one of world football’s most prized assets just a few years ago.
Having firmly fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola, sources revealed to Football Insider that Grealish had told friends he does not expect to be at City next season.
With City keen on signing Lyon star Rayan Cherki, according to The Telegraph, a former England winger revealed why the 29-year-old should make a move back to his former club.
Aston Villa return will bring the best out of ‘hero’ Jack Grealish
Host Hugh Woozencroft and former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant debated live on talkSPORT as to whether Grealish’s celebrations after winning the treble in the 2023/24 season had caused Guardiola to lose faith in the winger’s commitment.
The host then highlighted the Spaniard’s decision to give Claudio Echeverri his debut off the bench in the FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace, instead of bringing on the former Villa man, and asked the former winger if that spoke to a loss of trust from the manager.
Pennant said (27 May, 7.54pm): “It’s not like Jack’s not good enough. [He] has now come to terms with ‘my career doesn’t lie at Manchester City anymore’. Pep’s seeing him as ‘you’re not gonna be in my plans next season’, it’s as simple as that.”
Woozencroft then asks Pennant where he would want Grealish to go next, as his career at the Etihad has seemingly come to an end.
The former Arsenal winger said: “The one team that I think would put a smile on a lot of people’s faces, I’d like to see Jack go back to Aston Villa, I think that would just be perfect.
“He knows the team, he knows the club, he’s from there and he’s a hero there and we will see the Jack that got that hundred million move.”
Marco Asension, Marcus Rashford show why Aston Villa is perfect destination for Jack Grealish
Football Insider Verdict
Watching Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford enjoy career renaissances at Villa will have only served as further assurance for Grealish that a return to the Midlands should be the move he makes this summer.
Both players have endured a difficult past few seasons having been shut out by their managers in Paris and Manchester.
But having joined Unai Emery’s side in January, the pair were integral to the club’s run to the Champions League, and their up-turn in form in the latter stages of the Premier League season.
Missing out on qualifying for Europe’s most prestigious competition may make it difficult for Villa to finance the move, thanks to the lost revenue.
However, should Rashford choose to join Barcelona instead of the Villains, the club will be free of the burdens his wages carry, making signing Grealish much more feasible.