“I don’t know” – Pep Guardiola reflects on Jack Grealish’s omission from Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad | OneFootball

Jack Grealish is showing the necessary levels in training to stake a claim in Manchester City’s starting eleven, Pep Guardiola has admitted in his latest media duties.

The iconic £100 million signing for the reigning Premier League champions in 2021 has been heavily linked with a summer exit after struggles with form again this term – his fourth season in a sky blue shirt.

Jack Grealish starred and was one of Manchester City’s best players during their historic treble season of 2022/23 but has since failed to replicate the levels that made him so integral to Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering operation.

The 29-year-old made the bench against Nottingham Forest last week and was not called upon by his manager when Manchester City were desperate for a creative cutting edge after Callum Hudson-Odoi’s 83rd minute goal.

In an additional blow this week, Grealish was not included in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad after missing out on the National Team squad for last summer’s European Championship tournament altogether.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s visit from Brighton and Hove Albion in his pre-match press conference, Pep Guardiola said, “I don’t know – I want the best for him, I want his best. I cannot judge the reasons why (he was left out of the England squad).

“I wish him all the best; the best for him, and the best on the pitch, and off the pitch. This is what I want.”

Asked if Jack Grealish is showing the necessary levels in training to justify a starting place for Manchester City, Pep Guardiola nodded saying yes, though it has to be said that the he has little reason to field Grealish over the in-form Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

Grealish’s desire to represent England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – especially after his European Championship snub last summer – is focal to his disgruntlement and there have been indications that the forward will look for an exit at the end of the season.

Reports in England have outlined that as things stand, City will look to sell Grealish in the summer for a cut-price figure from the £100 million they paid for him to secure his services from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021.

It’s coming down to the next three months if Grealish is to convince Guardiola that he deserves a place in Manchester City’s squad that incoming sporting director Hugo Viana will look to build when the Blues conduct open squad surgery at the end of this term.