Jack Grealish: Man City midfielder left out of squad for final game to spark uncertainty over future

Boss Pep Guardiola raised eyebrows after Tuesday’s win over Bournemouth with a bombshell claim that he would “quit” City if he had such a large squad to manage next season.

He then clarified in Friday’s news conference that it was a joke, but reiterated the message that he needs to work with a smaller group of players.

City have 32 players listed on their official website so numerous departures are likely.

But will Grealish be one of them?

The forward made a major contribution in the club’s Treble success of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in 2022-23, but has struggled to replicate his best form since – and his days at the club now seem to be numbered after being left out on Sunday.

Grealish has scored just four Premier League goals in the last two seasons – including a solitary strike this term – and has become accustomed to warming the bench.

Signed for £100m from Aston Villa in 2021, he failed to play minutes at Wembley against Palace last Saturday, with Guardiola instead handing a surprise second-half debut to Argentine teenager Claudio Echeverri.

Grealish’s lack of regular games for City has also affected his international ambitions, and he was “absolutely heartbroken” to be left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad last summer.

It remains to be seen whether he will be selected for City’s Fifa Club World Cup squad, with an expanded tournament starting in the USA on 14 June.