Jack Grealish, the 29-year-old England star on loan from Manchester City, made headlines after deleting an Instagram story that appeared to subtly criticize his former manager, Pep Guardiola, following a stellar start at Everton in the 2025-26 Premier League season. After leading Everton to a 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 30, 2025, Grealish posted a screenshot of a Google search highlighting that it was the first time he had started three consecutive games since September 2024. The caption, “Feels so good to finally play three games in a row,” was interpreted as a dig at Guardiola’s rotation policy at Manchester City, where Grealish started only seven Premier League matches in the 2024-25 season. The post, shared minutes after City’s 2-1 loss to Brighton, was quickly deleted, but not before going viral, as reported by *Yahoo Sports*, *OneFootball*, and *SportBible* on September 2, 2025.[]
Grealish’s move to Everton, finalized on August 12, 2025, for a £12 million loan fee, has revitalized his career. Under manager David Moyes, he has started all three of Everton’s Premier League matches, registering four assists—two in a 2-0 win over Brighton and two against Wolves—surpassing his assist tally from the past two seasons at City. His performances earned him the Premier League Player of the Week award, with stats including five dribbles, two long balls, and eight recoveries in the Wolves match. *Goodison News* noted Moyes’ trust in Grealish, allowing him the freedom to express his attacking flair, a stark contrast to his limited role under Guardiola, where he was often benched for Jeremy Doku and Savinho.[]
The deleted Instagram post sparked varied reactions. X users called it “wild” for shading City while on loan, with one stating, “Guardiola was the problem all along,” reflecting sentiment that City’s rigid system stifled Grealish’s creativity. However, *The Guardian* and *Sporting News* argue that Grealish’s decline at City was partly self-inflicted, citing injuries and a dip in form post his 2022-23 treble-winning season, where he started every Champions League knockout match. Grealish’s resurgence at Everton, where he wears the No. 18 shirt in homage to Paul Gascoigne and Wayne Rooney, aligns with his goal to enjoy football again and secure a spot in England’s 2026 World Cup squad under Thomas Tuchel.[]
Grealish’s financial success off the pitch also continues, with his image rights company, Kelandan Ltd, reporting £10.5 million in assets in 2024, bolstered by deals with Puma, Pepsi, and Gucci. While the deleted post suggests lingering frustration with Guardiola, Grealish’s focus remains on thriving at Everton, proving his worth on Merseyside.
