Jack Grealish opens up on FaceTime call that sparked Manchester City exit | OneFootball

Manchester City’s loaned-out forward Jack Grealish has opened up on a FaceTime call that convinced him of his exit from the Etihad Stadium this summer.

The England international completed a temporary move to Everton ahead of the brand new and ongoing Premier League season, with the Toffees successfully convincing the player and Manchester City to sanction a season-long agreement ahead of other potential suitors.

For Pep Guardiola’s side, Jack Grealish’s exit was seen as part of a wider squad reshuffle of their attacking options, with Rayan Cherki brought in from Olympique Lyonnais and later unveiled as the club’s new No.10 – replacing the former Aston Villa man in the jersey.

Grealish had been linked with various destinations before sealing his Hill Dickinson switch, with both Tottenham and West Ham considered admirers, and a permanent move abroad floated earlier in the summer.

However, the financial package required to sign the £100 million star of 2021 on a full-time basis made a straight transfer away from the Etihad Stadium near impossible, leaving a loan move as the most realistic pathway.

The 29-year-old’s departure also followed an injury-hit campaign last season, where his influence on Manchester City’s run-in diminished amid a poor winter spell for Pep Guardiola’s side. With competition for places intensifying, especially following the arrivals of players such as Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders, Grealish’s role became increasingly uncertain.

Speaking post-match with Sky Sports at the Hill Dickinson Stadium after an impressive home debut including two assists for Grealish, the versatile forward admitted his delight at his time with City but pointed towards a phone call with his new manager when discussing how he was convinced to make the Merseyside move.

“It’s massive! I absolutely loved my time at Man City and I had a great four years there, won a lot of things,” Grealish insisted.

The England international continued, “But this summer I felt it was time for a change, and as soon as I spoke to the manager David Moyes on FaceTime, I knew this was the place I wanted to come.

“And there was a lot of reasons why I wanted to come here, and today shows why.”

Looking ahead, Everton will hope Grealish can add much-needed creativity and experience to their attack. His home debut already hinted at flashes of quality, and should he rediscover his peak form, the Toffees may emerge as one of the Premier League’s surprise packages.

For City, attention now turns to how Pep Guardiola will balance his attacking options without Grealish in the squad. Rayan Cherki’s new No.10 role highlights the club’s faith in the Frenchman, while Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden are also expected to shoulder more responsibility.

Should Jack Grealish impress in Merseyside, Manchester City may face a decision next summer about whether to reintegrate him into their project or cash in permanently, with Everton holding a £50 million option to buy next summer.