Jack Grealish didn't even make it off the bench in Man City's FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, and Alan Shearer believes this summer will spell the end of the England star's time in Manchester
Alan Shearer believes Pep Guardiola has shown he doesn't like Jack Grealish and has tipped the Manchester City boss to get rid of the England international this summer. It's been a dour season for the 29-year-old, who has scored just one Premier League goal and only two more across all competitions in 31 appearances.
In what has been Guardiola's first trophyless season since his debut campaign with City almost a decade ago, the Manchester club are in transition. And with club icon Kevin De Bruyne departing this summer, Grealish could very well join him through the exit door.
That's a possibility Shearer certainly thinks will come to fruition, especially after the former Aston Villa man was an unused substitute in City's 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace at Wembley on Saturday.
It was Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan, and 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri – who was making his club debut – that were subbed on instead of City's £100million attacking midfielder in what could very well be his last season in sky blue.
Discussing Grealish's future on The Rest Is Football podcast, the Newcastle United icon and former England captain said: "His time's up at Man City. He has to leave.
"For [Guardiola] to bring on a debutant on, a young boy, and Gundogan on when they're desperate for a goal rather than Jack Grealish, his time is up."
Shearer claimed that Grealish seemingly no longer has a fan in Guardiola, given his relegation to a bit-part role this season. He brutally added: "He's done at Man City, he has to leave [and] for whatever reason Pep's done with him. He doesn't like him. His time's up."
A common criticism of Grealish since his big-money move to City in 2021 is that he seems to have lost the freedom in his play that made him such a coveted player during his time at Aston Villa.
It's an opinion ex-City defender Micah Richards shares, as he said: "I feel as though Jack has played within himself. If he'd gone there and be losing the ball because he was trying to take people on and making the wrong pass or whatever. But I don't feel like we've seen the real Jack Grealish."
Following the huge blow for City on Saturday, Wayne Rooney echoed Shearer's thoughts on BBC's coverage of the FA Cup final, as the Manchester United legend said: "If I was Jack Grealish I'd be really concerned about my future at the football club, not getting on the pitch."
While the midfielder still has two years left on his contract, he's been linked with a move to Newcastle in recent months as well as an emotional return to Aston Villa. But the Midlands club must make sure they don't fall foul of PSR rules.
City have two more games remaining this term, with a visit from Bournemouth up first on Tuesday in their last home match of the campaign. A trip to Fulham awaits on the final day of the season this Sunday, and Grealish will be hoping to get some minutes before potentially parting ways with the club in the summer.
Tawablnopt
51
I'm really not a fan of Grealish but that's how Pep operates, he has given Savio a lot of playing time but there is nothing to show for it, if Pep wants to sell you, he uses you for a few seasons and dump you on the bench and make it look like you can't perform and then sells you, because he knows Man city have enough money to buy him any player he wants, he has done it to soo many players and no one is talking about it, he did it to Aguero, Sterling, Mahrez, Jesus, Cancelo, walker and he's even doing it to KDB immediately he finds your replacement on the market he benches and make you look like you are not good enough he is always looking for good, quality players to assemble, not giving his own players enough time to wear out, I don't believe in his tactics, where is his tactics, how come his tactics is not working anymore, look at the line up he used on Saturday against the Crystal Palace team, and look at the players on the bench and his team as a whole, how come liverpool is leading Man city by a whooping 18 points, there is nothing special about Peps tactics, I rest my case, what was tactical was Claudio Ranieri winning the premiership with his Leicester team
Himbcmp
40
But Gralish is not a player for Manchester City, he must try teams like Everton, Brighton, Crystal Palace etc etc
Kuwaceks
34
I would say Pep ruined his career. He was massive at Aston Villa. Sometimes I feel Pep is really ungrateful coach to his own players.