Grealish is losing everything

Jack Grealish is losing himself.

At the time, Grealish was a true poster boy: talented, handsome, with a flamboyant and English style of play. But today, the star is just a pale shadow, standing on the sidelines of the first team, with a plummeting market value and an uncertain future.

A short peak season

Grealish had a relatively successful 2022/23 season. He played 50 games, contributed 5 goals and 11 assists - not too explosive numbers for an attacking player, but enough to confirm his role in Guardiola's Champions League-winning squad. At that time, Transfermarkt still valued Grealish at 75 million euros. That was when City fans had reason to believe that this deal would gradually bear "sweet fruit".

But then things took a different turn. Since that season, Grealish’s career has been in a downward spiral. In the 2023/24 season, he missed 17 games due to injury – a number that would make any player lose their rhythm and the trust of their coach.

In a team like Man City, where there are 2-3 quality replacements for each position, absence means opportunity is taken away. Savinho, a young and fast face, has emerged as the new challenger. Guardiola even frankly stated: "Savinho is in better form than Jack, and that is why he is playing."

Grealish no longer has a place at Manchester City.

But Grealish’s decline was not just due to injury or professional factors. It also came from a turbulent personal life. The burglary that occurred at the end of 2023, when his family was broken into while they were in the house, left a significant mental trauma. “It was a horrible experience,” he shared. The feeling of insecurity crept into his personal life - the place where players can rely on to find stability.

And then, the pictures of partying in nightclubs appeared in the newspapers, once again pulling Grealish away from the professional footballer model that Pep Guardiola always pursued. Those noisy evenings may have been a way for him to relieve pressure, but they were also the reason why his image and playing discipline were questioned.

From assets to financial burdens

Now, with a market value of just 28 million euros - less than a third of his career peak - Grealish is becoming a financial burden for Man City. Although the team is willing to sell him to cut losses, finding a new home for a 29-year-old player with a high salary, inconsistent form and a history of injuries is not easy.

According to The Sun , Man City expect to earn around 46 million euros - a figure that, despite the sharp reduction, is still not easy to accept for other teams. The transfer market is increasingly pragmatic, and no one wants to pour money into a name "living on old reputation".

Grealish is gradually losing confidence in Pep Guardiola's eyes.

Guardiola’s recent statement was a gentle end in itself: “Jack is a fantastic player. He needs to play every three days. That hasn’t happened this season or last season. He needs to play, whether it’s here or elsewhere – that’s between Jack, his agent and the club.” From a coach who always defended his players, Pep now speaks of Grealish in a neutral, even distant tone. It’s a manager’s way of paving the way for a farewell.

Grealish is under contract until 2027, which complicates his move away from City. He has no shortage of talent, and in a more suitable environment, with lower demands and a less intense atmosphere, he could be reborn. But that won’t happen if Grealish continues to get stuck in the hustle and bustle and loses focus on his football.

Jack Grealish’s story is a valuable lesson in modern football : talent alone is not enough. At the highest level, discipline, fitness, mentality and environment play a vital role. For Grealish, he had it all – but let it slip away through complacency and complacency.

It's not too late to start over. But the question is: do you still want to?

Source: https://znews.vn/grealish-dang-mat-tat-ca-post1567230.html