Manchester City are currently in the United States preparing for the FIFA Club World Cup.
Phil Foden hopes to win the Club World Cup this summer, and the Man City midfielder is one of many, as everyone associated with the Premier League giants looks to put the 2024/25 campaign behind them.
Major changes have occurred throughout the opening phase of the summer transfer window as Pep Guardiola was keen to add four to five new faces to his squad before the new Premier League season gets underway in August.
City have already hit that number of new signings ahead of the Club World Cup, and that means exits will have to occur over the coming weeks.
Micah Richards has been commenting on one star in particular, and the former Man City star thinks “it’s sad” what is happening at his former club.
Micah Richards thinks Jack Grealish’s situation is sad
Jack Grealish was not included in Man City’s squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, as it looks like the winger will leave the Etihad Stadium over the coming weeks.
Frank Leboeuf thinks Grealish’s situation in Manchester is sad, and that is a sentiment Richards agrees with.
“No, it’s sad though, isn’t it? It’s sad because I don’t know if I’m biased. I don’t know, I don’t think I’m biased because I’ve seen him week in, week out at Villa and I know how good he is, and he can still be,” the BBC pundit said on The Rest Is Football.
“I think he’s played a little bit within himself, and I think we’ve discussed that a lot on Match of the Day, haven’t we? But he’s playing in a system and a format which suits the rest of the team, not necessarily him. I don’t think that’s making excuses for him.
“I just think that’s the fact and especially when he was at Villa. When he was at Villa, teams weren’t playing the low block, so he had space to run into.
“When you’re at Man City, everyone’s playing a low block and you’ve got to try and break them down. Unfortunately, he’s just not been at the level we all expect. He did really well in the season when they won the treble.
“I think he was a key player in that. But yeah, maybe I agree with you. Best for both parties to move on.”
Richards continued by saying: “Yeah, but I think it’s sad, not because he’s got to move on. I think it’s sad because we’ve not seen the best of Jack Grealish. I think that’s why it’s more sad for me, knowing his capabilities on the football field.
“That’s where the sadness comes from. But I hope he goes somewhere and absolutely smashes it, because I think he will.”
There are several clubs interested in Grealish, but it remains to be seen what teams make an official move for the winger, as the Man City star is expected to cost around £50m this summer, while he is also on a salary of £300,000-a-week.
- READ MORE: Michael Owen now shares the ‘whispers’ he has been hearing about Jack Grealish at Man City
Jack Grealish has been told to go to Everton
Everton are one of the clubs leading the race for Grealish as the Toffees are keen to take the winger on loan for the 2025/26 season.
ESPN pundit Don Hutchison has advised Grealish to make the move to Everton as the 29-year-old would benefit from working with David Moyes, as the Blues manager would put an arm around him and let him be free on the pitch.
Newcastle and Tottenham are other clubs keeping an eye on the Man City star’s situation, while Napoli are keen on Grealish, and they could be rivalled by fellow Serie A side AC Milan.
Wherever the Englishman goes next, the winger needs to make sure he is getting regular minutes, as that is the only way he has a chance of playing for England at the 2026 World Cup.
