Enzo Maresca has thrown Jack Grealish an unexpected career lifeline at Manchester City, with the new boss ready to give the winger a chance to prove his worth during pre-season.
Maresca Tells Grealish: Show Me What You’ve Got This Summer
The 30-year-old looked certain to leave the Etihad this summer after spending last season on loan at Everton.
Injuries disrupted his campaign at Goodison Park, and a permanent exit appeared the most likely outcome for much of the season.
However, TEAMtalk reports that Maresca wants to personally assess Grealish before making any final decision on his future.
Rather than sanctioning a cut-price sale, the Italian coach intends to give the England international a genuine opportunity to fight for his place in the squad.
Grealish is expected to return to City shortly after recovering from the foot injury that ended his Everton loan spell prematurely.
The situation carries added intrigue because Maresca knows Grealish well from his previous role on Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff. That familiarity could work in the winger’s favour.
The 2022/23 treble-winning campaign represented Grealish’s best period at the club, when Guardiola trusted him within a structured system.
His ability to retain possession, maintain control and deliver in high-pressure matches made him a valuable asset.
With Guardiola now departed and Maresca at the helm, the squad faces significant reshaping. City have already shown their willingness to make bold moves by signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Nevertheless, Grealish may still offer something useful to the new project. His experience in big games and ball-retention qualities could complement Maresca’s vision for the team.
The decisive question revolves around whether Grealish still possesses the sharpness and confidence to become a regular contributor at the highest level.
Pre-season will provide the perfect testing ground. Maresca wants to see if the winger can rediscover his form and prove he deserves a place in City’s rebuilding plans.
For Grealish, this represents a golden opportunity to revive his City career when many had written him off. The coming weeks will determine whether he can seize it.
