Agbonlahor slams fake reports on Grealish’s Asia tour omission
Gabby Agbonlahor has publicly attacked the wave of ‘fake reports’ that claim Jack Grealish was deliberately excluded from Manchester City’s pre‑season tour of Asia. The former England forward said the speculation is nonsense and insisted the omission was not a disciplinary decision.
Grealish was a notable omission from the travelling squad, and rumours circulated that he had been left in England deliberately. Those claims have been amplified across media outlets despite a lack of official confirmation.
The City forward has not played since suffering a foot injury while on loan at Everton, and he corrected an outlet’s report that he and teammate Kalvin Phillips had been ‘left out’ of the selection that flew to the Far East.
Grealish wrote on Instagram, “Just to let you know I’m still recovering from an injury so I’m not training yet. Haven’t been left out so stop talking poo poo thanks,” making clear he is still sidelined.
Agbonlahor reinforced Grealish’s statements while the pair discussed the player’s future on holiday, and when asked about a possible return to Aston Villa on Drive, he replied, “I don’t think so.”
The talkSPORT pundit added, “There’s been so many fake reports about how he wasn’t called for the (pre‑season) tour and he wasn’t wanted, that’s all nonsense. He’s not able to train yet, so he’s been out training at Real Mallorca’s training ground, putting the hard yards in, looking after himself, training hard. He just said he’s hungry. If it’s at Manchester City, if it’s another club – I can’t say which one it is – he wants to play football, he wants to get back.”
Grealish spent last season on loan with Merseyside outfit Everton, making two goals and six assists before a foot injury against his former side Villa in January cut his time short. Agbonlahor later said a return to Everton could be an option, noting David Moyes loves him and that Grealish is in his last year and needs to be playing.
New City head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed he has yet to speak with Grealish, stating, “I didn’t speak with Jack while I am here. Jack is a City player. When we are back in Manchester, if he is fit he will work with us.”