Jack Grealish’s future at Manchester City remains unclear after the midfielder was left out of the club’s pre-season tour of Hong Kong and South Korea, despite returning to training with the squad last week.
The 30-year-old was absent from the 28-man travelling squad as he continues to recover from the foot injury that cut short his loan spell at Everton in January. The setback also ended any realistic hopes of forcing his way into England’s World Cup plans.
Grealish is back at City with just one year remaining on his contract, but there has been no indication that the club intends to offer him an extension to his reported £300,000-per-week deal. His long-term future now appears likely to depend on whether new head coach Enzo Maresca sees him as part of his plans or is prepared to approve a transfer before the summer window closes.
Maresca has not ruled out giving the former Aston Villa captain another opportunity. Speaking last week, the Italian said Grealish remains a City player and stressed that every player deserves the chance to prove themselves. He also highlighted their positive relationship, describing Grealish as someone with “a big heart” and saying the club will assess the situation as pre-season progresses.
However, Grealish’s prospects have not been helped by recent photographs showing him drinking during afternoons on two separate occasions over the past three months. Although he previously rejected suggestions that he was a “party boy” after City’s Treble celebrations in 2023, the renewed attention is unlikely to strengthen his position or attract interested clubs.
The winger has not played a competitive match since the start of the year, while fellow England international Kalvin Phillips also finds himself on the fringes after returning from an unsuccessful loan spell at Sheffield United. Phillips, who joined City from Leeds United in 2022, has played only seven minutes of EFL Cup football for the club across the past two seasons and has also been left out of the touring squad, with City believed to be willing to listen to offers.
City’s squad for the Far East trip has a youthful look. Senior players including Gianluigi Donnarumma, Phil Foden, Josko Gvardiol and Antoine Semenyo are included, while Erling Haaland, new signing Elliot Anderson, Rayan Cherki and Nico O’Reilly have been given additional time off following their World Cup commitments.
Maresca will take charge of his first match as City manager against Serie A champions Inter Milan on Saturday. The club will then face the K-League All Stars and Atletico Madrid in Seoul as preparations for the new season continue.
While Manchester City begin a new chapter under Maresca, Grealish’s immediate focus remains on recovering from injury—and waiting to discover whether he still has a role to play at the Etihad Stadium or whether his five-year stay is nearing its end.