On June 18, 2025, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described Jack Grealish’s exclusion from the club’s 27-man FIFA Club World Cup squad as “the best” decision for both the player and the team, following “honest discussions” with the club. Speaking at a press conference in Philadelphia ahead of City’s opener against Morocco’s Wydad AC on June 18, Guardiola said, “He had a conversation with the club and [we] decided [what was for] the best,” emphasizing that Grealish’s absence allows him to work on his game after a lackluster 2024-25 season with only seven Premier League starts, per The Guardian.
Grealish’s Struggles and Future
Grealish, a £100 million signing from Aston Villa in 2021, was a key part of City’s 2022-23 treble but has since struggled, making just 20 Premier League appearances (one goal, one assist) last season and remaining unused in the 1-0 FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace, per Sports Illustrated. Guardiola took responsibility, stating, “The reason he didn’t play is my decisions… Over the last two years he didn’t play much and I take responsibility for that,” but urged Grealish to rediscover his form, per Leigh Journal. While hinting at a potential summer exit, Guardiola left the door open, saying, “If we don’t find [another solution], he’s a player for Man City and he will be back,” per The Guardian.
Club World Cup Context
The revamped 32-team Club World Cup, running from June 14 to July 13 in the U.S., is a priority for City after a trophyless season, with new signings like Rayan Cherki and Omar Marmoush included in the squad, per AP News. Grealish’s omission, first reported on June 4 by @Matt_Law_DT, fueled speculation of a move, with interest from Premier League clubs like Everton, per @DeadlineDayLive. Grealish hit back at critics on social media, noting, “Scored three goals in my last three appearances over 45 mins,” per Sports Illustrated.
Guardiola’s Broader Strategy
Guardiola also named a captaincy pool of Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Ruben Dias for the tournament, citing dissatisfaction with last season’s leadership after Kyle Walker’s loan to AC Milan, per The Guardian. Grealish’s exclusion aligns with Guardiola’s squad rebuild, as he aims to restore City’s dominance, per The Straits Times.
