Jack Grealish, once heralded as the £100 million maverick who could light up any pitch, now stands at a career crossroads, his Manchester City tenure seemingly over. At 29, the English winger’s journey from Aston Villa’s talisman to a peripheral figure at the Etihad is a cautionary tale of untapped potential and missed opportunities. In November 2024, teammate Rodri, the Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder, offered Grealish a blunt piece of advice: “A very good guy, a very good heart that makes the team, but he has to improve many things, and he knows it.” Those words, meant to spur Grealish into action, went unheeded, and now, as Pep Guardiola prepares to part ways with the treble-winner, Grealish’s future hangs in the balance.
Grealish’s decline at Manchester City has been stark. Signed in 2021 for a then-British record fee, he was lauded as “one of the most exciting attacking players in world football” by director of football Txiki Begiristain. His flair, honed at Villa Park with 16 goal contributions in his final season, promised to elevate City’s attack. In 2023, Grealish delivered, playing a pivotal role in their historic treble, starting every Champions League knockout tie and dazzling in moments like the 6-3 thrashing of Manchester United. Yet, the past two seasons have seen his star fade. Injuries, including a dead leg and groin issues, disrupted his rhythm, but his lack of progress on the pitch was more telling. With just 17 Premier League starts since 2023 and a meager 17 goals and 23 assists in 157 games, Grealish’s output has been underwhelming for a player of his price tag.
Rodri’s advice was a call to evolve. He urged Grealish to sharpen his game, to rediscover the dynamism that once saw him “ghost past people,” as Aston Villa’s former academy director Bryan Jones described. Instead, Grealish’s play became predictable, often hugging the touchline as instructed by Guardiola, a role that stifled his natural creativity. Unlike his treble-winning campaign, where he drifted centrally to wreak havoc, Grealish rarely ran beyond defenses or improved his shooting technique, with shots often blocked easily. “If Grealish had gone out of his way to show Rodri, Pep, and the fans that he was desperate to become a success, perhaps his spell would not have petered out,” a sentiment echoed by fans on social media. Meanwhile, younger wingers like Savinho thrived under Guardiola’s freedom to express themselves, exposing Grealish’s stagnation.
Guardiola’s patience waned. In 2024-25, Grealish started just seven league games, was an unused substitute in the FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace, and was omitted from the Club World Cup squad. “Jack is an exceptional player, but he has to play,” Guardiola said in May, hinting at an exit. By June 2025, he was more explicit: “He needs to feel the butterflies again, playing every three days and showing his quality.” These words, spoken before City’s Club World Cup campaign, confirmed Grealish’s departure was imminent. His exclusion from the squad, despite honest discussions with the club, underscored his fall from grace.
Off the pitch, Grealish faced personal challenges—a home break-in in 2023, missing Euro 2024, and becoming a father in 2024—yet these couldn’t fully explain his professional decline. Critics argue Guardiola’s system, which demanded Grealish rein in his maverick instincts, dulled his edge. Former City goalkeeper Shay Given lamented, “He’s a mannequin on the wing, just told to keep the shape.” Others, however, point to Grealish’s own responsibility to seize games, as he did against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in 2023.
Grealish’s next move is uncertain. With two years left on his £300,000-a-week contract, a transfer is complicated. Tottenham, Newcastle, and Everton have been linked, but his wages and City’s £50 million valuation deter suitors. A return to Aston Villa seems unlikely due to their wage constraints, while European clubs like AC Milan and Napoli face financial hurdles. A loan move, possibly with City subsidizing wages, is the likeliest outcome, though Grealish prefers a permanent move to revive his England career ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
As Grealish reflects on his City chapter, Rodri’s words loom large. Had he heeded the call to evolve, his story might have been different. Instead, he leaves a legacy of what could have been—a dazzling talent who lost his spark in the shadow of unfulfilled expectations.
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