Man City star Jack Grealish mocked me – but I’ll shake his hand when we next play him

Jack Grealish is used to generating headlines at Manchester City’s title parades. There was the 2023 iconic photo, the 2024 moment he nearly fell off the back of an open top bus, and a few sweary moments in 2022.

That year, where he waltzed onto stage with a beer in hand and was still in full party-mode, saw another act get some unwanted publicity as Bernardo Silva went live on Instagram with Grealish beside him. Filter off, Grealish mocked Riyad Mahrez’s performance in Manchester City’s final day comeback win over Aston Villa and said the now-infamous line: “There were two secrets… number one: Riyad. Take him off the pitch, as soon as possible. He played like [Miguel] Almiron yesterday.”

Needless, ill-advised and maybe even a bit cruel. But Grealish had let a dressing room joke into the public domain and it was there to stay.

Unsurprisingly, the comments didn’t go down well at Newcastle, where Almiron is loved by his fans in the North East. And the fixture computer added to the drama by sending City to St James’ Park just three games into the new season.

Grealish was set for a hostile reception that afternoon as City drew 3-3 but missed out with a knock, with home fans unveiling an Almiron flag in support of the Paraguayan. Grealish was also an unused substitute last season at St James’ Park in the Premier League, although he played the Carabao Cup defeat last September and was roundly booed whenever he touched the ball.

By that point, Grealish had chance to explain himself and apologise.

Speaking from the England World Cup camp in December 2022, he said he had privately reached out to former Aston Villa teammate Matt Targett, now at Newcastle, to apologise. “Matt just said: ‘Jack, he’s a lovely kid, he’s harmless and he doesn’t speak a lot of English … he won’t really be bothered,’” Grealish said.

“I didn’t want to reply [to Almirón] on social media because you dig a bigger hole and I’ve been there with other stuff.”

Almiron had calmed the tensions before that after starting the season in sparkling form – something which amplified the Grealish comment further. One flag spotted at Newcastle turned Grealish’s comments on their head: “I wish I could play like Almiron,” it read. ‘Miggy, can Grealish have your shirt’, read another.

“Would I shake his hand the next time we line up to play Man City? Yes. Yes, I would,” Almiron said. “Of course, I’d shake hands with him, whenever we play against Man City without a shadow of a doubt.

“Like I have said and as I keep on insisting to people Jack Grealish is a great player and I just wish him all the best. Throughout my career and for as long as I have played football, as long as I remember, I have never really paid attention to what people say to me off the field. You just get on with your own job and that’s it.”

That response left an impression on Grealish. He reflected: “I thought: ‘What a guy.’ Because if that was me and somebody had said that about me, I’d have probably been the other way and been like: ‘F— it.’ I didn’t realise it was a video to go out but even in private I shouldn’t have said it because he’s a fellow professional. I’ve had a lot of stick off the Newcastle fans and rightly so.

“I like to enjoy myself and I just go with the flow but I do some stupid stuff sometimes that I do regret. When I next play against him, I’ll show him the most respect because that’s what he’s done in a situation where he probably didn’t have to. I genuinely hope he does keep scoring – as long as those Newcastle fans stop messaging me.”

The Toon Army don’t seem like the type to forgive and forget quickly, and they rally behind their own whoever is wearing the black and white shirt. Grealish can expect another tough reception when he arrives at St James’ Park on Saturday – but equally he can expect a warm handshake from a player who has long moved on.