Femi Fabunmi
Manchester City midfielder, Jack Grealish’s future at the Etihad appears increasingly uncertain after he was excluded from Pep Guardiola’s squad for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
Despite given the opportunity to register 35 players, City named just 27 for the tournament in the United States starting June 14 with Grealish and former club captain Kyle Walker both excluded from the club’s list.
Meanwhile, all four of the club’s recent signings — Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli — made the squad.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri also returns, after recovering from a long-term knee injury that kept him out of the Premier League last season.
It would be recalled that Grealish, signed for a club-record £100 million from Aston Villa in 2021, but has now slipped down the pecking order.
He made only seven Premier League starts in the 2024/25 campaign and remained on the bench during City’s 1-0 FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace.
Still under contract for two more years and earning a reported £300,000 a week, Grealish’s high wages could deter potential suitors.
Guardiola had previously warned he might leave the club if his squad wasn’t trimmed before the next season.
Grealish and Walker are among several players expected to exit.
Walker, 35, spent the latter part of last season on loan at AC Milan, who declined an option to make the move permanent.
City will kick off their Club World Cup campaign against Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia next Wednesday, followed by group games against Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus.
