‘Jack Grealish to find Man City exit hard despite Guardiola snub hurt’
Jack Grealish will likely find it tricky to leave Man City this summer despite his desire to play more football than he is getting.
The former Aston Villa striker believes that the 29-year-old will find it difficult to walk away from the Etihad Stadium regardless of his frustrations with his current situation at the club.
This has been a difficult season with Pep Guardiola‘s side for the England international who has struggled to start on a regular basis.
Grealish is facing competition for a place at Man City from the likes of Savinho, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and January signing Omar Marmoush.
All of that has contributed to plenty of speculation around the future of the winger, although there appears to be some belief that what happens come the end of this season is still far from certain.
Gabby Agbonlahor makes Jack Grealish future prediction
There is certainly a sense that the winger is far from satisfied with the position he finds himself in under Guardiola this season.
It was even noted that Grealish did not look happy when scoring for Man City against PSG after coming off the bench in the Champions League earlier in the year.
All of that has led to claims that Grealish will leave Man City for another big club when the transfer window reopens in the summer.
Gabby Agbonlahor though feels that is not guaranteed to happen, as he feels the 29-year-old will find it hard to depart the club that have given him so much success in his career.
| Jack Grealish for Man City in 2024/25 | Total (as per Transfermarkt) |
| Appearances | 26 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Yellow Cards | 4 |
| Red Cards | 0 |
| Minutes Played | 1,319 |
That is despite the fact that the ex-England international would personally like to see the winger move on for the good of his own career.
Speaking about Grealish’s situation at Man City on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor said: “He loves football so this season will be hurting him.
“I think it was the PSG game where he came on, he actually scored in that game, you could see the anger in him of like ‘I don’t want to be on the bench I want to be starting games’.
“And it’s a hard a club to leave because of the success he’s had there but I want to see him playing every week, I want to see him playing with a manager that trusts him, let him play in the number ten position, let him drift, let him get one the ball and take players on.
“He’s 29, he’s got a lot to offer and I’m sure in the summer he’ll evaluate what’s right for him.”
After then being asked if he would like to see Grealish leave Man City, Agbonlahor added: “I would yes. I feel Man City would be hard to leave.
“He loves his time at Man City but when you see City struggling this season and he’s (Guardiola) preferring Marmoush now he’s brought him in, you’ve got Doku as well, Savinho, Foden, I think he’ll (Grealish) be looking at it and thinking ‘let’s see what’s right for me in the summer’.
“It might be right to stay and keep fighting for your place or go and play at another big big club and play week in week out, especially with a World Cup next season as well.”
Man City exit not easy, but a must for Jack Grealish
Football Insider Verdict
It would be understandable if Grealish did find the idea of departing the Etihad something of a difficult one to accept.
He has been there for almost four years now, during which time he has clearly developed a strong connection with many aspects of Man City.
As a result it would be hard for him to say goodbye, especially when walking away from the club that has allowed him to achieve so much in his career.
Indeed, he may also see it as a risk, given there is no guarantee he would be moving to a club able to match their levels of success.
Of course, earlier in the season it was suggested Grealish is still in Guardiola’s plans, and Man City may not want to sell him this summer, when he still has time remaining on his contract.
Yet despite all that after falling down the pecking order at the Etihad, Grealish risks becoming a forgotten man if he remains in that situation for much longer.
Considering the talent he possesses and the fact that at 29-years-old he should still have plenty more to give it would feel like a significant waste if things play out in that way.