Pre-season audition
Jack Grealish might not be leaving Manchester City after all. The 30-year-old winger, who spent last season on loan at Everton, looked destined for a permanent exit this summer. Injuries disrupted his campaign on Merseyside, and the club's attacking depth suggested his time at the Etihad was up.
But things have changed.
TEAMtalk reports that new City boss Enzo Maresca wants to assess Grealish personally during pre-season before making a final call. Rather than pushing through a low-value sale, Maresca is prepared to give him a genuine shot at winning back his place.
Manager knows him well
Grealish is expected to return to City after recovering from the foot injury that ended his Everton loan spell early. Maresca knows him from his previous stint on Pep Guardiola's coaching staff, which adds weight to the idea that this is more than just a courtesy look.
Grealish's best form at City came when he was trusted in a structured system, particularly during the treble-winning 2022/23 campaign. Guardiola has since departed, Maresca has arrived, and the squad is being reshaped.
The question is whether Grealish still has the sharpness and confidence to contribute regularly.
What Grealish still offers
Maresca is right to pause before selling. Grealish's value is probably lower now than it was two years ago, so rushing him out would make little sense. A strong pre-season could change everything.
He may not be the quickest winger in the squad, but he brings control, ball retention and experience in big matches — the kind of calmness that can slow games down when City need to manage a lead. That still has value across a long season.
This has to be a real opportunity, though, not a polite farewell. If Maresca sees a clear role, Grealish should stay. If he is only going to sit on the bench, both parties should accept that a clean exit is best.