“I’m tired of being on the bench. If Pep Guardiola doesn’t intend to play me, he should allow me to depart for Barcelona.” This is the sentiment expressed by a £51 million Manchester City player who seeks an immediate exit from the club after being sidelined for five consecutive matches without receiving any playing time.

Pep Guardiola acknowledges the need for the 28-year-old Manchester City player to progress.

Speaking about Jack Grealish’s recent limited playing time in the Manchester City lineup, Guardiola shed light on the winger’s situation during a recent press conference ahead of their match against Everton.

Guardiola mentioned, “Jack is taking strides to fulfill his potential. He’s now competing with players performing at a high level, which explains his reduced minutes. He needs to recapture his form, particularly from his time at Villa.”

“I anticipate giving him more playing time. While this season has been different, he’s showing improvement, which is encouraging. We need him, and I’m eager to see him back to his best,” Guardiola added.

Despite starting 41 games in all competitions last season, Grealish has only made seven Premier League starts this season.

Guardiola emphasized that Grealish needs to contribute more to secure his spot in the team, especially considering the productive performances of other players like Jeremy Doku and Bernardo Silva. However, Guardiola remains optimistic about Grealish’s potential to rise to the occasion.