Former Manchester City manager urges Jack Grealish to join new club abroad | OneFootball

Jack Grealish has been recommended by one former Manchester City manager to take his career away from English football, speaking during a new interview.

Since arriving at the Etihad Stadium in a £100 million move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021, Grealish has experienced a mixed tenure whilst working under Pep Guardiola predominantly in the left-sided attacking role.

While contributing to multiple trophy-winning campaigns — including the club’s historic treble in 2022/23 — consistent starting opportunities and decisive output have proved somewhat elusive in parts, and a season of injuries and irregular form last time out only added further uncertainty around his place in the squad.

City, who currently boast serious depth in attacking positions, are hoping to see Phil Foden rise into a new creative peak following the exit of Kevin De Bruyne, while Oscar Bobb is viewed as a long-term project complimented by Jeremy Doku, Savinho, and Omar Marmoush.

With Grealish enduring a campaign largely on the fringes last term, his role entering 2025/26 remains a key talking point, particularly at a time when foreign interest can be expected. Now, a former City boss has weighed in on the matter and believes a bold move could serve best.

Speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Premier League odds, former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce has recommended that Jack Grealish should now take his career abroad with a view towards securing an improvement in game time.

“I wouldn’t say Jack Grealish could go abroad and become a megastar, but I certainly think going abroad wouldn’t be a bad thing for him,” Pearce insisted.

“Every time I see an English player going abroad, I think it’s good for the national team personally, as well as for the players’ experience and everything,” he continued. “A lot of players that we’ve seen going abroad in recent times, Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham, they’ve flourished.

“It’s good to show that we’ve got players that are prepared to go into Europe and get life experience abroad. I think Jack Grealish would benefit from that. The one thing he’s got to do, footballing-wise, is he’s got to deliver more goals and more assists from the position he plays in.

“When I look at England at the moment, we’ve got a centre forward in Harry Kane and mobility is probably not his forte. So you need players on either flank being very mobile to go beyond him. That’s not Jack’s game either.”

Stuart Pearce continued, “So that holds him back a little bit at international level. But at the moment, he can’t get in the international squad because his former club level isn’t good enough.

“We need someone like Jack Grealish to be playing well enough at club level to be in the international fold on a regular basis.”

Pearce’s suggestion comes at a time when Grealish’s Etihad Stadium future is uncertain but not yet terminal. There is yet to be an indication of any active efforts to move the player on, and Pep Guardiola still values his tactical intelligence — especially in big-game scenarios.

However, the winger is entering a critical period, with the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup now a visible long-term target for many of England’s hopefuls.

Should Grealish consider a move abroad, Serie A and La Liga have both previously attracted Manchester City players seeking a fresh chapter — most notably Kevin De Bruyne after the club decided not to extend his contract earlier this summer.

The rise of the Saudi Pro League could also present a financially attractive, if less competitive, option should Manchester City receive a suitable offer from their own point of view.