Pep Guardiola gives brutal one-word verdict on Jack Grealish's latest Man City snub

Pep Guardiola refused to elaborate when asked why had not even made the squad for their final game of the season. City finish their campaign at Craven Cottage on Sunday, needing a win to be absolutely certain of a place in next season's , but .

The winger did not even make the travelling squad for the match and was instead left at home. He has started just one Premier League game in 2025 and was left on the substitutes' bench for in the final.

Guardiola had some tough calls to make for the match, with his inflated City squad meaning he was always going to have to disappoint some players. Kevin De Bruyne has been benched for his final game at the club before he leaves on a free transfer, with Jeremy Doku preferred.

The City boss was asked about his decisions in a pre-match interview. Asked if it was tough to drop De Bruyne, Guardiola replied: "It always is, for him especially, and for other players as well. Players want to play. It will be a tough game, physical, but maybe I decide [it's better to give] a few minutes at the end for Kevin."

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But asked about Grealish, Guardiola simply shot back: "Selection". There was no further explanation for the England international's absence ahead of a critical summer, which could see him leave.

The 29-year-old, who cost City £100million from in 2021, will hold talks with City's directors of football Txiki Begiristain and Hugo Viana soon to clarify his position.

Guardiola previously brushed off questions about Grealish after he chose to bring on 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri ahead of him when chasing an equaliser at Wembley against Palace. “We didn’t talk, I didn’t talk with him,” he said.

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“I’m saying these things, and people don’t believe me, but it belongs to the agents and the club and Txiki, in this case, and Hugo as well. Both will decide. What is going to happen will happen, but we are going to start to play again, but of course he has to come back to play minutes to start to play again.”

Alan Shearer has urged Grealish to leave City and go to a club where he will play more often ahead of the 2026 World Cup, when he will be battling for a place in Thomas Tuchel's squad. "His time is up at Man City, he has to leave," he said after the FA Cup final snub.

"For him (Guardiola) to bring a debutant on, a young boy and (Ilkay) Gundogan on when they're desperate for a goal rather than Jack Grealish... his time is up, he's done at Man City, he has to leave.

"For whatever reason, Pep's done with him, he doesn't like him, his time is up it really is."

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