Guardiola Addresses Grealish’s Absence
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken out regarding Jack Grealish‘s absence from the squad, clarifying that it is not linked to any personal conduct issues. The 29-year-old midfielder has been left out of the team heading to the Club World Cup and has also received permission to explore transfer opportunities with other clubs.
Performance Concerns and Team Competition
Guardiola acknowledged that he has previously raised concerns about Grealish’s training performances. However, he firmly stated that the reason for Grealish’s limited playing time over the last two seasons rests solely on team competition rather than any misconduct.
“The only factor preventing Grealish from getting minutes is my decision, not because of any issue on his part,”
Guardiola emphasized, highlighting the impressive performances from teammates like Jérémy Doku and Savinho, who have excelled in recent matches.
Transfer Interest and Future Prospects
With two years remaining on his contract with Manchester City, Grealish has been the focus of interest from several Premier League teams including Everton, Tottenham, and his former club Aston Villa. Additionally, European clubs like Bayern Munich and Napoli have expressed interest in the English international. Although Manchester City prefers to pursue a permanent transfer, there is a possibility that Grealish might initially be loaned out.
Guardiola’s Support for Grealish
Guardiola expressed his well-wishes for Grealish and his family, stating,
“I want the best for Jack, his partner, his kids, his family. I have no doubts about Jack’s abilities; his talent has always been clear, and our treble-winning season would have been unthinkable without him.”
