The £100m man has been here before. A disappointing season, expectations not managed, a Premier League winner’s medal but a bit-part role in securing it.
Back in the summer of 2022, Grealish was beginning his second year at City, aware of all the noise that follows him. His debut campaign at the Etihad wasn’t a success and he knew it.
Standing in the tunnel of the NRG Stadium in Houston, having just helped City beat a physical Club America side, Grealish gave it back to reporters. He defended his extravagant holiday that summer to Las Vegas that was documented daily on the front of the tabloids.
He pointed to other City players who have taken a year to adapt to Pep Guardiola’s demands. And he fully backed himself to make a success of his British-record transfer to City.
A quick glance back to the subsequent 2022/23 season shows he did exactly that. Grealish was a pivotal cog in the Treble-winning side, and partied even harder in the summer of 2023.
But having proved the doubters wrong from his debut campaign, Grealish is back to square one again. The same questions asked of him in Houston will be asked this summer, and with more meaning.
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