JACK GREALISH has reportedly cut his summer holiday short to return to Manchester City early for pre-season.
The playmaker, 28, was a surprise shock exclusion from Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man England squad for Euro 2024.
Grealish responded to the snub by going on holiday to Dubai where he was given a helping hand after letting his hair down.
He then headed to Sardinia with his girlfriend Sasha Attwood.
As well as relaxing with his glamorous partner, Grealish ensured he did not switch off completely.
He shared a topless selfie after getting a sweat on during a workout before then using Juventus’ academy training facilities to keep sharp.
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But now the Daily Star state the £100million man will head back to Manchester early.
City’s players not involved in the Euros or Copa America are not due to report for pre-season until July 9.
But Grealish is expected to return a full week earlier than that in an attempt to prove his form and fitness to Pep Guardiola.
Grealish endured an incredibly tough 2023-24 campaign on and off the pitch.
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And he even admitted it was a “write-off” of a season, which was rocked personally by a break-in at his home while Attwood and his family were watching him play on TV over Christmas.
The ace managed just three goals in 36 appearances – all coming in a hot streak in December – and a total of ten Premier League starts.
Talk of dropping Harry Kane is absurd, says Jurgen Klinsmann
NO manager in the world will really care about how many touches their centre-forward has, writes Jurgen Klinsmann.
It’s being widely flagged up that Harry Kane has not seen much of the ball in England’s first two matches but this is not, in itself, going to be a concern for Gareth Southgate.
It’s a nice thing for the stats fanatics to go on about — and there are obviously more and more of them in and around football.
But not all statistics are helpful and this one doesn’t mean a great deal.
Harry has scored one goal, and so nearly two, in two games. It’s not as if he hasn’t been involved at all.
Everybody in England needs to calm down a little about the captain.
Some are even suggesting that he should be dropped or rested for tomorrow’s final group game against Slovenia — but that is totally absurd.
Please stop worrying. He will come good. He always does.
Read Jurgen Klinsmann thoughts on Harry Kane’s struggles in full.
Or check out all of Jurgen’s Euro 2024 columns.
Injuries also played their part – but it was his attitude in training that frustrated Guardiola most come the end of the campaign.
So much so that the winger did not play a single minute in the last four matches of City’s season – including the FA Cup final.
Transfer links suggested he could head out the Etihad exit door this summer, with Bayern Munich said to be keen.
Harry Redknapp told SunSport he thinks Grealish needs to focus on his own form rather than celebrating silverware after his Euros snub.
Redknapp said: “Jack Grealish is a big loss. Maybe he needs to get back to concentrating on his football.
“His form this year has gone to pieces. I’m not sure he’s Gareth Southgate’s cup of tea.”
But Grealish is clearly desperate to prove his worth and fight for his place in the City team.
Speaking after securing a third Premier League title, he said: “I don’t feel like I’ve performed well this season at all.
“Pep’s an unbelievable guy.
“I’ve had times where I’ve struggled off the pitch, you know, I’ll openly say that and he’s been there for me so much, I can only thank him.
“He’s a brilliant manager on the pitch but when I’ve been in his office he’s helped me.”
Guardiola, meanwhile, is confident he can get the best out of Grealish once again.
He said: “Jack will be back.
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“He’s struggled this season and Jeremy Doku has made an incredible step forward as everyone has seen in the last games.
“But Jack will be back at the level of last season, I’m pretty sure.”
Man City’s five key moments this season
A look at the five key moments in Man City’s title winning campaign…
- Luton 1 – 2 Man City: City bounce back from a run of four games without a win to kick-start their unbeaten run.
- Newcastle 2 – 3 Man City: Kevin De Bruyne returns from injury to come off the bench and inspire a late turnaround against the Magpies.
- Man City 3 – 1 Man Utd: Phil Foden puts on a masterclass as City lay down a marker on their title ambitions and breeze past their local rivals in the process.
- Man City 0 – 0 Arsenal: A goalless draw that, although disappointing, meant City were still keeping pace with the teams around them and could maintain their spot in the title race. A loss could have put Arsenal out of sight of the Cityzens.
- Man City 4 – 1 Aston Villa: Following consecutive draws against title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, City bounce back with a thumping of Unai Emery’s high-flying Villa to keep the pressure on the Gunners.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
