From star player to outcast

Jack Grealish arrived at Manchester City in 2021 for €117 million, carrying the label of a star and the hope of becoming an era-defining player. But three years later, the reality couldn’t be more different: Pep Guardiola has frozen him out, he wasn’t even included in the Club World Cup squad, and his departure now seems necessary—though far from simple.

The English winger is under contract until 2027 and earns nearly €18 million per season, the second-highest salary in the squad after Erling Haaland. That figure makes him practically untransferable. No club in Europe appears willing to take on that financial burden, and so Grealish is stuck in limbo: no minutes, no serious suitors, and no place in City’s plans.

Guardiola’s hot potato

With the squad back in training, both Guardiola and the new sporting director Hugo Viana must figure out what to do with the player. According to English media, there are no solid offers on the table, and the rumored interest from Napoli is just that—a rumor, with no financial feasibility.

The only realistic option is Everton, reportedly open to a one-year loan deal with a non-mandatory purchase clause, and with City covering a large portion of his wages. It would be a dramatic shift for someone who, just two seasons ago, was a guaranteed starter and logging over 4,000 minutes per year. Now, he barely plays 1,500 minutes, and his impact has been nearly nonexistent.

New chapter or free fall?

At 29, Grealish still has plenty of talent, but his present is bleak. He no longer makes headlines for his football, but for what he represents: a record-breaking transfer that hasn’t panned out, with a massive salary that blocks any way out. Even his off-field lifestyle—always a media magnet—is once again overshadowing his performance.

Manchester City needs answers, and time is running out. The big question is whether Jack Grealish will get another shot… or if we’ve already seen the best of him.