Manchester City outcast Jack Grealish has agreed to return to pre-season training alone as he tries to force an exit from the club.
The 29-year-old will report for training a week early while other City stars continue to enjoy the rest of their holidays.
Pep Guardiola’s squad are on a well deserved summer break following a long season and their Club World Cup campaign, which saw them dumped out in the round-of-16 by Saudi side Al-Hilal.
But Grealish was brutally axed from the 27-man tournament squad and has not been afforded the same break.
The England international, who has been working with personal trainer Jamie Reynolds throughout the summer to maintain fitness, will train by himself when he returns this week, according to the Telegraph.
Grealish, who joined City from Aston Villa for £100million four years ago, was told that he could leave at the beginning of the summer but a move is yet to materialise.
Jack Grealish will return to Man City training alone next week as he looks to leave the Etihad
The 29-year-old was axed from Man City’s 27-man squad for this summer’s Club World Cup
Defender Ruben Dias has been on holiday with Maya James in Ibiza and Florida this summer
His return to training will come while his team-mates are relishing some time in the sun ahead of the start of Premier League next month.
Ruben Dias has been spotted relaxing with girlfriend Maya Jama at Cala Bassa Beach Club in Ibiza, having already travelled to Florida together.
Erling Haaland and partner Isabel Haugseng attended the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda fashion show in Rome, while Nathan Ake announced the birth of his fourth child on Instagram.
Brazilian forward Savinho also shared snaps on his trip abroad.
Guardiola himself has insisted that Grealish needs game time and that it would be ‘best’ for him to leave the Etihad.
The Spaniard said: ‘He had a conversation with the club and they decided it was best.
‘Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason why he didn’t play last season is of course my decisions.
‘We decide that he has to play. The club was honest, he was honest.
‘We decide that the best thing is to stay (behind) and have a place that he can feel like he can come back to be the player like he was in the year of the Treble or all his career in Aston Villa.
Erling Haaland and Isabel Haugseng attended the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Rome
Meanwhile, Nathan Ake announced the birth of his fourth child with his partner on Instagram
Grealish’s return comes as his team-mates continue to enjoy their well earned summer break
‘Without him it would have been more difficult in the year of the Treble.
‘The fact is in the last two seasons he didn’t play much minutes. He has to come back to play and have the butterflies in his stomach that he can play every three days, every three days and show again the quality he has.’
The treble winner has two years remaining on his £300,000-per-week contract amid interest from Premier League sides and abroad.
Italian champions Napoli are said to be interested in the attacker, as are Everton and West Ham, but his huge wage bill is appearing to be prohibitive.
City will listen to loan offers if they cannot find a willing bidder for a man they signed for £100m in 2021.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has also told the winger that he must be playing more to earn a place in his plans, having left him out of his first two squads.
Grealish has made 39 England appearances and was ‘heartbroken’ to be left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, calling it ‘the most difficult thing I have had to deal with in my career’.
Despite his impending departure, Grealish’s relationship with City fans remains strong.
Grealish affirmed his love for Man City while chatting with fans following a gig last Friday
Pep Guardiola said that Jack Grealish needed to leave Man City in seach for more game time
The 29-year-old had earlier been on holiday in Greece to soak up the sun after last season
He was spotted attending Oasis’ gig at Heaton Park last Friday, and was pictured speaking to supporters from the VIP barrier.
‘You know what? I love City more than anything,’ the England international told a fan.
‘And do you know what I love more than anything? City fans. They’re the best fans in the world.’
