Guardiola speaks out about Grealish’s absence from Manchester City squad

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has denied speculation that Jack Grealish’s absence from the squad is related to his off-field behavior.

The 29-year-old midfielder has been left out of the Club World Cup squad and has been granted permission to discuss potential moves away from the Etihad Stadium with other clubs.

“The only reason he didn’t get playing minutes was my decision, not because he was incorrect or whatever,” Guardiola explained.

According to the Spanish coach, Grealish’s limited playing time over the past two years — stems from the impressive performances of other players like Jérémy Doku and Savinho.

Grealish has two years remaining on his City contract and has been linked with several Premier League clubs including:

• Everton
• Tottenham
• Aston Villa

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich and Napoli have also shown interest from Europe. City prefer a permanent transfer, though a loan move remains possible.

“I want the best for Jack, his partner, his kids, his family,” Guardiola added. “I don’t have any doubts about Jack’s qualities. The quality has always been there, the treble season would have been impossible without him.”