Grealish Frozen Out at Man City – What Comes Next for the £100m Man? | OneFootball

Jack Grealish’s Uncertain Future: What Next for Manchester City’s Enigma?

Jack Grealish once symbolised English football’s glamour and grit. In Manchester City’s treble-winning season, he was central — a player trusted, utilised, celebrated. But fast forward two years and the 29-year-old is barely visible, starting just seven Premier League matches in the 2024–25 campaign.

Injuries have played their part, certainly, but the omissions feel deeper than knocks and strains. Grealish did not feature at all in City’s FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace. Nor did he make the squad for their final Premier League outing at Fulham.

“It’s nothing personal with Jack,” Pep Guardiola explained. “I’m the person who fought for him to come here… What happens in the future is a job for Txiki, Hugo and the agents.”

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Whatever the diplomatic framing, the brutal reality is this: Grealish has played less than one-third of league minutes for two consecutive seasons.

Numbers Behind the Narrative

His creative output tells a more generous story. Yes, just one assist per season over the last two years is a grim return. But expected assists (xA) paint a different picture. Grealish continues to create quality chances. Teammates’ finishing, not his passing, has let the stats slip.

There’s been a tactical friction at play. Guardiola’s positional rigidity jars with Grealish’s natural improvisation. In City’s controlled ecosystem, his instinct to dribble, cut inside or dart diagonally is often sacrificed for recycling possession.

Finding the Right Fit

If City is no longer the right setting, where could Grealish rediscover his spark? A return to Aston Villa might appeal emotionally and tactically, but Unai Emery’s squad is packed in Grealish’s preferred zones.

Further down the Premier League, styles at Crystal Palace, Bournemouth or Nottingham Forest align better with Grealish’s instincts — fast, vertical transitions, fewer constraints. Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White offer proof that such environments can revive flair players.

Tottenham could offer Champions League football and a left-sided void following Son Heung-min’s decline and rumoured move, though their youth-first policy complicates any move. Still, Grealish’s profile — part winger, part inside playmaker — would bring balance opposite Dejan Kulusevski.

Abroad, Napoli seem ideal. Their need for left-side creativity is clear following Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s departure. Grealish’s dribbling mirrors the Georgian’s, and with Serie A embracing British exports recently, the transition may be smoother than expected.