Guardiola Opens Door for Grealish Exit After Final Day Omission

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola caused a stir by leaving Jack Grealish out of the squad for their final Premier League game. The absence of the £100m winger against Fulham has fueled speculation about his future at the club.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Jack Grealish was surprisingly missing from Manchester City‘s squad during their 2-0 win over Fulham on the Premier League‘s last day. When asked about his omission, Guardiola gave a brief answer: “Selection.” City secured a comfortable win with goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Erling Haaland, earning them a 15th consecutive Champions League appearance and a third-place finish in the Premier League.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The 2024-25 season has been especially challenging for Grealish, with limited playing time. He started just seven Premier League games, making only 20 appearances with 715 minutes of play. This is a significant drop from previous seasons since his £100m move from Aston Villa. City’s third-place finish ends their run of consecutive Premier League titles, but they have secured a spot in the Champions League for next season.

GUARDIOLA’S COMMENTS

In his post-match press conference, Guardiola shed light on Grealish’s situation with some revealing remarks. “In the last two months, I’ve left five or six players out, and this time I chose these guys. Nothing more than that,” the Spanish manager explained. Crucially, he added: “Jack has to play. That’s the reality. Jack is an incredible player who needs to play every three days. That hasn’t happened this season, and it didn’t last season either. He needs to do that here or somewhere else.”

WHAT NEXT FOR GREALISH?

Guardiola’s comments have essentially paved the way for Grealish to leave Manchester City. “That’s a question for Jack, his agent, and the club. Whether he stays or goes, we’ll be fine, and he’ll keep fighting to contribute,” Guardiola stated. While a permanent transfer may be challenging given Grealish’s value, a loan move could be more feasible for the 29-year-old to rejuvenate his career. Manchester City will now focus on their summer transfer plans as they aim to reclaim the Premier League title next season, with their first game scheduled in mid-August as the 2025-26 campaign kicks off.