Guardiola ‘offers’ Man City star to Barcelona for £34m Deal almost Sealed

The football world is buzzing with shock after reports emerged that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has personally offered Jack Grealish to his former club, FC Barcelona, for a cut-price deal worth £34 million. It’s a dramatic twist in the career of the once most expensive British footballer—a man who joined City for £100 million from Aston Villa just a few years ago.

Guardiola’s decision marks a major shift in how Grealish is perceived within the City hierarchy. The Spanish tactician, who once lauded the Englishman’s flair and creativity, now appears ready to part ways with him—possibly for less than a third of the original fee. And the most surprising part? Barcelona said no.

According to Spanish outlets, newly appointed Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick was quick to reject the offer. Despite the discounted price, Flick allegedly “doesn’t see Grealish as a player who fits into his project.” That response speaks volumes—not just about the German’s tactical vision, but also about how far Grealish’s stock has fallen since his high-profile switch to the Etihad.

The Grealish saga is one of the most perplexing in recent Premier League history. When Manchester City splashed £100 million on the Aston Villa captain in 2021, the expectation was that Grealish would elevate their already dominant team into something nearly untouchable. His silky dribbles, tight ball control, and penchant for drawing fouls were considered the missing elements in Guardiola’s highly structured machine.

Yet, the fit never quite materialized. While he showed glimpses of brilliance, Grealish never truly became the consistent game-changer City fans hoped for. Instead, he oscillated between starting XI and bench, often playing a supporting role while others—like Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva—stepped up in key moments.

The 2024/25 season was particularly forgettable. Manchester City finished third in the Premier League, exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals, and suffered a surprise loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. Grealish’s impact throughout the campaign? Minimal. He started just 16 matches across all competitions, an alarming statistic for a player of his value.

Perhaps the most damning sign of his declining importance came when Guardiola omitted him from the Club World Cup squad. That decision, sources claim, was when Grealish began to realize his time in Manchester might be nearing its end. For a player once heralded as England’s golden boy, the fall has been swift and sobering.

City’s summer transfer window activity further underscores the shifting sands. The club has already signed young and dynamic talents like Rayan Aït-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki—players that signal a move toward freshness, intensity, and tactical adaptability. With new faces arriving and more being pursued, it’s clear that Grealish no longer fits Guardiola’s blueprint.

Barcelona, historically a club that loves flair players and technical brilliance, could have been a natural landing spot for Grealish. But Hansi Flick’s quick rejection reveals just how calculated the Catalan rebuild is under the German’s stewardship. Flick reportedly wants high-pressing, disciplined, and tactically versatile players—qualities Grealish may no longer exemplify.

Still, not all hope is lost for the 29-year-old winger. Everton has emerged as a surprising candidate to rescue his career. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has given the move a “35 percent chance,” citing the Merseyside club’s openness to a loan deal rather than a full transfer. But even that path is riddled with obstacles.

The biggest stumbling block? Grealish’s mammoth £300,000 weekly wage. In today’s financially strained football climate, few clubs—let alone Everton—can afford that without some support from Manchester City. A loan deal where City agrees to pay part of his salary seems the most likely scenario.

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness also weighed in, suggesting the club might hesitate to revolve their rebuild around a 29-year-old. “They’ve got bigger issues to solve,” he said. “And committing to a player on those wages, who hasn’t been at his best, may not be the smartest long-term strategy.”

However, Wyness didn’t hide his admiration for Grealish as a player. Reflecting on his time at Aston Villa, Wyness praised the attacker’s ability to “accept the ball and be a yard quicker than everyone else”—a rare technical gift that can be invaluable in tight games. That spark, he believes, still exists in the right environment.

Technically speaking, Grealish remains a gem. His ability to carry the ball through congested midfield spaces, draw defenders out of position, and control the tempo is not something you lose overnight. He also brings valuable experience from playing under Guardiola in title-winning teams and at the highest level in Europe.

But the challenge lies in aligning that skill set with a system that plays to his strengths. Guardiola’s current setup demands high-speed transitions, rapid one-touch passing, and relentless pressing off the ball. Grealish, who thrives with time on the ball and rhythm in his play, often looks like a man trying to dance to music he can’t quite hear.

Meanwhile, clubs like West Ham and Newcastle have also been linked to the winger, offering possible lifelines but without firm bids on the table. These clubs might be able to offer him more game time, but negotiations will likely hinge on how much of his salary City is willing to cover.

This entire saga also sheds light on how even Europe’s elite clubs must balance ambition with financial responsibility. Manchester City is prepared to take a £66 million loss just to clear the books and refresh the squad. It’s a brutal reminder of how quickly football moves on—and how little room there is for sentiment.

In the end, Grealish’s journey serves as a cautionary tale: even the brightest stars can dim if not aligned properly with the tactical or psychological fabric of a team. Whether it’s Everton, West Ham, or another club, the next move could define the rest of his career.

What’s clear is this: Guardiola has moved on, Barcelona isn’t biting, and time is ticking for Jack Grealish to prove he’s still one of English football’s elite. The summer window may just offer him one last shot at redemption.