Since finalising his British-record £100 million transfer from childhood club Aston Villa last summer, the 27-year-old Jack Grealish has come under fire from both journalists and pundits. At Manchester City, Grealish signed a six-year deal earning £250,000 per week, and in his first season there, he helped his new team win the Premier League. The England international, though, has undoubtedly struggled to perform at his peak for Man City on a regular basis, prompting some unfavourable media comments.
Throughout the 2021–22 season, Grealish made 38 appearances in all competitions and contributed six goals and four assists while frequently being rotated by Pep Guardiola. Jack Grealish throughout the past year has been in the top ninety percentile among his positional peers for progressive carries, touches in the attacking penalty area, shot-creating actions, projected assists, and passes that develop the offence.
The next stage for Grealish will undoubtedly be to score more goals and assist more goals. This will silence his detractors, but his overall performance levels might not be as bad as many think.
When Guardiola was asked about the 27-year-old, he said: “We didn’t sign him [Grealish] for the incredible goals and assists he got at Aston Villa. It was another reason. When he played he did it, but he competes with the top, top players as well. He knows it perfectly but never complains. He’s a nice guy. In the game, he’s one of the first players to help the team and in training sessions he’s always there.
“So I’m delighted about his behaviour and everything. He understands us, we can understand him and he just needs to have a little bit of continuity that I tried to give him and because he deserves it.”
Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League table, one point behind leader Arsenal.
