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 deal included a £50 million option to buy, sparking belief that Grealish had played his last game for City.

To complicate matters, his promising stint was cut short in January 2026 by a severe foot injury that required surgery and sidelined him for the rest of the season.

However, Guardiola’s departure at the end of the 2025–26 campaign has changed the picture.

Maresca – the heir apparent and former assistant to Guardiola during City’s 2022–23 treble-winning season – is set to take charge on a three-year deal.

The Italian tactician is familiar with City’s inner workings and 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 uncertain, a rejuvenated Grealish could provide the perfect blend of Premier League experience and tactical discipline.