Jack Grealish, Manchester City’s £100 million star, stands at a career crossroads following his exclusion from the club’s 27-man squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 18, 2025, in the United States. Pep Guardiola, the mastermind behind City’s recent dominance, has candidly suggested that the 29-year-old winger needs to leave the Etihad Stadium to rediscover the “butterflies in his stomach” that fueled his standout performances during the club’s 2022-23 treble-winning season. The decision, confirmed on June 11, 2025, signals a potential end to Grealish’s tenure at City, where he arrived from Aston Villa in 2021 as the most expensive English player in history.
The omission follows a challenging 2024-25 campaign for Grealish, who started just seven Premier League matches, registering one goal and one assist across 20 appearances. His limited role was starkly highlighted by his absence from the squad for City’s final league game against Fulham and his status as an unused substitute in their FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace. Guardiola, addressing the decision, emphasized it was in Grealish’s best interest, stating, “He had a conversation with the club and they decided it was best. Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason why he didn’t play last season is of course my decisions.” He urged Grealish to seek regular playing time, saying, “Jack has to play. He’s an unbelievable player that has to play football every three days. It didn’t happen this season and last season either. He needs to do it—with us or another place.”
Guardiola’s comments reflect a broader squad overhaul as City prepare for the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, facing Morocco’s Wydad AC in Philadelphia on June 18, followed by matches against Juventus and Al Ain in Group G. The squad includes new signings like Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Marcus Bettinelli, alongside returning stars like Rodri, who is recovering from an ACL injury, and John Stones, back from a thigh issue. Notably absent are former captain Kyle Walker, who was on loan at AC Milan, and Kevin De Bruyne, whose contract ends this month. Guardiola’s decision to appoint a captaincy pool of Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Ruben Dias, rather than a single leader, underscores his intent to reset team dynamics after a trophyless season, explaining, “For the first time in my career I decided it would be my captain—I didn’t like what happened last season.”
Grealish’s future is a hot topic, with interest from clubs like Everton, Napoli, Newcastle, West Ham, and even his former side Aston Villa. His £300,000-per-week wages and two years left on his contract may necessitate a loan deal due to financial constraints under Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). England manager Thomas Tuchel has also weighed in, urging Grealish, who has 39 caps, to secure regular minutes to earn a recall for the 2026 World Cup after missing Euro 2024, which he called “the most difficult thing I have had to deal with in my career.” Former City goalkeeper Shay Given echoed this sentiment, stating, “The writing is on the wall,” suggesting Grealish must explore new opportunities.
Despite the snub, Grealish remains defiant, sharing a photo of his rigorous training regime in Greece with the caption, “Late night runs on holiday,” signaling his commitment to fitness. His close friend and teammate Erling Haaland expressed support, posting on Snapchat, “Jack Grealish where are you,” with a sad emoji, highlighting their bond forged as travel partners and former neighbors in Manchester. As City embarkwiggle in the United States, Grealish’s exclusion fuels speculation of a summer transfer, with a reported £40 million valuation. Whether he stays to fight for his place or seeks a new club to reignite his spark, Grealish’s next move will shape the next chapter of his storied career.
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