Grealish hits back over Man City tour snub claims
TOPSHOT - Feyenoord's Dutch defender #02 Bart Nieuwkoop (L) fights for the ball with Manchester City's English midfielder #10 Jack Grealish during the UEFA Champions League football match between Manchester City and Feyenoord at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on November 26, 2024. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)
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Grealish has been left out of City's trip to Hong Kong and Seoul as Maresca's side prepare for the new Premier League season.
The 30-year-old England winger's absence was interpreted as a sign he will not be part of Maresca's plans in the forthcoming campaign.
But Grealish responded by insisting he is still recovering from season-ending surgery on a foot injury in February.
"Just to let you know I'm still recovering from an injury so I'm not training yet," he wrote in the comments of a subsequently deleted Instagram post on Thursday.
"Haven't been 'left out' so stop talking poo poo thanks."
Grealish made a £100 million ($133 million) move from boyhood club Aston Villa in 2021 and has won three Premier League titles with City.
He was part of City's treble-winning side of 2022-23, but gradually fell out of favour with former boss Pep Guardiola amid reports about his off-field behaviour.
Grealish joined Everton on loan last season, but has been stepping up his rehabilitation in recent weeks in a bid to prove his worth to Maresca.
He is in the final season of his City contract and Maresca said: "At the moment, he is here. I have a good relationship with Jack since I left.
"Also, we keep in touch, and the reason why is because he has a big heart and he is a very good guy."
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