Pep Guardiola reveals private conversation between Manchester City and Jack Grealish over transfer future | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed a behind-the-scenes conversation involving Jack Grealish and his future at the Etihad Stadium.

Grealish, 29, is expected to leave Manchester City after four seasons at the Etihad Stadium having made just seven Premier League starts in the 2024-25 campaign, which have put his future under Guardiola in doubt.

Since joining Manchester City for a club-record £100 million fee in 2021, Grealish has justified his acquisition arguably in just one of his four years at the club and has failed to maintain a regular spot in Guardiola’s starting XI amid confidence and fitness struggles.

City have made four new signings so far this summer and have parted ways with Kevin De Bruyne. Grealish is fighting for his England career after being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s first two squads as Three Lions boss.

The Birmingham-born winger has been left out of Manchester City’s FIFA Club World Cup squad to help him find a new club and plan for next season, with Guardiola and co set to face Wydad AC in their opening group-stage fixture of the tournament on Wednesday.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Guardiola was quizzed on the Grealish’s future following his omission from the club’s squad list in the United States and whether the forward has a future at the Etihad Stadium.

“There was a conversation between him (Grealish) and the club and decided the best,” Guardiola confirmed to reporters. “Jack is an exceptional player, the only reason why he didn’t play last season is, of course, my decisions.”

Grealish played a starring role in Manchester City’s historic 2022-23 treble-winning campaign but has failed to kick on from his best season in a sky blue jersey, which could see him make a fresh start come the new season.

“We decided he (Grealish) has to play, and the club was honest, he’s honest,” Guardiola added. “He’s incredibly respected and loved by the team, and we decided the best is for him to stay (behind) and have a place he feels he can play and come back to being the player that was in the year of the Treble or all his career in Aston Villa.

“Without him (Grealish), it wouldn’t have been possible – (it) would’ve been more difficult to get what we achieved in the Treble season.

“But the fact is the last two seasons he (Grealish) didn’t play much and he has to come back to play and have the butterflies in his stomach that he can play every three days and show again the quality he has.”

When further pressed on whether the opportunity regain such butterflies would be at Manchester City, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. It will be away when he (Grealish) is away.

“Now we decided don’t come here (to the FIFA Club World Cup), and what happens I don’t know. At the end, we don’t find (a new club), then he (Grealish) is a player for Man City and he will be back.”

Recent reports have also linked long-standing Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker with an exit this summer, after he was granted permission to seek a new opportunity having been snubbed by AC Milan over a potential permanent stay with the Italian side.

“I don’t have any news (on Kyle Walker and Everton),” Guardiola said. “It’s the same case as Jack (Grealish). But about links and teams (interested), sorry you have to ask Hugo (Viana) on these terms.”