Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has dropped a major hint that Jack Grealish could be on his way out of the club this summer. The England international was left out of the squad heading to the United States for the newly formatted FIFA Club World Cup — a decision that has sparked fresh speculation about his future at the Etihad.
Grealish, now 29, has struggled to find consistent playing time this season, starting only seven Premier League matches in the 2024–25 campaign. Signed from Aston Villa for a staggering £100 million in 2021, the attacking midfielder was once a key figure in Guardiola’s squad, especially during the club’s treble-winning season in 2022–23. But recent form and team selection decisions have seen his role diminish.
Speaking ahead of City's opening Group G match against Wydad Casablanca, Guardiola acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Grealish’s position in the team.
“We had a conversation between him and the club and decided it was best for him not to travel to the Club World Cup,” Guardiola said during a press conference in Philadelphia.
Guardiola was full of praise for Grealish’s talent, but also made it clear that the midfielder needs more consistent minutes to reignite his career.
“Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason he didn’t play last season was down to my decisions. Now we all agree — he needs to play more. The club was honest with him, and he was honest with us.”
The City manager emphasized that while Grealish remains an important part of the squad’s past achievements, the past two seasons haven’t gone according to plan.
“He has a lot of love and respect for the team. But we decided it’s better for him to stay in Manchester, focus on himself, and find the spark again — that hunger to play and compete every few days like he did at Villa or during the treble year,” Guardiola explained.
Although Guardiola didn’t completely close the door on Grealish’s future with the club, his comments suggest a period of reflection is ahead — both for the player and for City.
“I don't know if his future will be in Manchester. We’ll be away for now, and we’ll see what happens. As of now, he’s still a City player. If he has to come back, he will.”
With the summer transfer window approaching and opportunities limited at Manchester City, Jack Grealish may soon be forced to make a big decision about the next chapter of his career.