Enzo Maresca planning Jack Grealish reboot as Manchester City enter new era | OneFootball

As Manchester City prepare for a new chapter in the post-Pep Guardiola era, incoming manager Enzo Maresca is already shaping his vision for the squad.

According to the Daily Mirror, part of Maresca’s first acts at the helm will be a surprise move to hand Jack Grealish a fresh opportunity to revive his City career.

Grealish’s future at the Etihad Stadium looked bleak just a few months ago. Having fallen out of favour under Guardiola, the 30-year-old midfielder was sent to Everton on a season-long loan last summer.

The £12m wage-heavy deal included a £50m option to buy, sparking belief that Grealish had played his last game for City.

To complicate matters, his promising stint at Goodison Park was cut short in January 2026 by a severe foot injury, which required surgery and ruled him out for the rest of the season.

However, Guardiola’s departure at the end of the 2025–26 campaign has changed the picture entirely. Maresca—the heir apparent and former assistant during City’s 2022–23 treble-winning season—is set to take charge on a three-year deal.

The Italian tactician is familiar with the inner workings at Manchester City and, crucially, maintains a strong personal bond with Grealish from their time together in Manchester.

Rather than sanctioning a cut-price summer sale, Maresca is ready to reintegrate Grealish into first-team training once his rehabilitation is complete.

With Bernardo Silva departing and the futures of other attacking players like Savinho uncertain, a rejuvenated Grealish could provide the perfect blend of Premier League experience and tactical discipline.