Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola still has faith in Jack Grealish’s ability—but admits the English winger might need to find a new club to revive his career.
Just two years ago, Grealish played a key role in City’s historic treble-winning season. Now, he finds himself out of the squad altogether, even missing out on a place in the team for the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup. Once a vital part of Guardiola’s setup, the 28-year-old has slipped into the shadows, and his future at the club is now uncertain.
Speaking ahead of City’s opening Club World Cup match, Guardiola said it might be best for Grealish to look for a new opportunity elsewhere.
City’s 2024–25 campaign hasn’t gone smoothly. The team struggled midway through the season—eliminated in the fourth round of the League Cup and knocked out in the Champions League round of 16 play-offs. They eventually bounced back to finish third in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final. But Grealish spent most of the season on the sidelines, unable to reclaim a regular spot in the starting XI.
Now, his chances of breaking back into the squad seem slim.
Guardiola, however, offered some advice to the midfielder who joined City in 2021 from Aston Villa in a big-money move. The Spanish coach made it clear he still believes in Grealish’s talent.
“There were discussions between him and the club, and together they made the decision not to take him [to the Club World Cup]. Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason he didn’t play much last season was purely my decision. But now we’ve agreed—he has to play. The club was honest in that decision, and so was he,” Guardiola explained.
Though he hinted that a move elsewhere might be best for Grealish, Guardiola also kept the door open for the winger to stay.
“We came to the conclusion that staying at the club [and not traveling with the squad] would be the best option for now. What he needs is to find a place where he feels he can return to the level he was at during the treble-winning season—or the way he played at Aston Villa.”
Manchester City begin their Club World Cup campaign against Morocco’s Wydad AC. The Group G match kicks off on Wednesday at 10 PM Bangladesh time in Philadelphia.
