Jack Grealish denied Fluminense ace Felipe Melo’s claims that the Manchester City player chanted ‘Ole’ after Club World Cup final triumph.
Melo blamed Grealish for the melee
A scuffle broke out after the final whistle
Grealish denied the charges
WHAT HAPPENED?
City got little time to celebrate their Club World Cup success, following a massive 4-0 win over Fluminense, as a post-match melee involving Melo, Kyle Walker, and Grealish unfolded in Jeddah on Friday evening. Melo claimed after the match that Grealish was disrespectful towards Fluminense and alleged that the England international was shouting “ole” at the end of the game.
WHAT MELO SAID & HOW DID GREALISH RESPOND?
“I’ve already seen on social media idiots saying that I started a mess,” Melo said after full time.
“Just as the idiots said that I started the mess with the goal that Gremio scored. Today Grealish was disrespectful towards the Fluminense institution and I will never let that happen. He was shouting ole at the end of the game. This is for the fans, the fans can shout ole. The athlete on the field cannot be disrespectful towards the Institution.
“So, for the idiots who call themselves journalists and have already said that I started trouble, I didn’t start any confusion, on the contrary, I went to defend Martinelli, who was being cornered by this athlete. And I would do it again. I am a warrior.”
Grealish spotted his quotes on X and responded: “Not once did I say ole.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
It was completely one-way traffic during the match as City gave little room to their opponents to foray beyond the halfway line. A brace from Julian Alvarez, an own goal from Nino and Phil Foden’s strike in the 72nd minute propelled the reigning European champions to their fifth trophy of the season.
WHAT NEXT?
City will have little time to rest as they are set to return to Premier League action on Wednesday with a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton. Grealish will look to put in an inspired performance on the pitch against the Toffees to arrest their Premier League slump which has seen them slip to the fourth position in the standings, five points behind league leaders Arsenal.