Jack Grealish has not been included in Manchester City's squad for their pre-season tour of Hong Kong and Seoul, which commences over the next 11 days. Grealish was present during the team's return to pre-season training last week but will not feature in the upcoming matches as he continues to recover from a foot injury sustained in January.
The injury not only ended his season prematurely but also impacted his chances of representing England at the World Cup. Grealish is now entering the final year of his contract with Manchester City, with no immediate signs of a contract extension being offered on his reported weekly wage of £300,000.
New manager Enzo Maresca addressed Grealish's situation last week, stating that the player is currently with the club and it is his duty to coach him. Maresca noted his positive relationship with Grealish, stemming from their time together previously, and indicated that they would see what the future holds. However, Maresca also expressed concern over recent images appearing to show Grealish drinking alcohol on two separate occasions in the past three months.
While Grealish was a prominent figure in Manchester City's 2023 treble celebrations, he has not played a competitive match since the beginning of the year. Another player, Kalvin Phillips, also returns to the club following an unsuccessful loan spell at Sheffield United last season. Phillips has seen limited game time since his transfer from Leeds in 2022.
Manchester City is taking a squad of 28 players on the tour, which includes a mix of senior players and those from the elite development squad. The team will play friendly matches against Inter Milan, the K-League All Stars, and Atletico Madrid. Grealish's absence from the tour squad raises questions about his future at the Etihad Stadium as the club appears open to offers for the player this summer.