WHAT A CAR CRASH, JACK
Grealish’s antics not only made himself look idiotic and selfish, they have cast doubt on his England prospects and potential big-money move to Old Trafford
AS ONE of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents, Jack Grealish has the world at his feet.
On the cusp of an England call-up and with Manchester United ready to bid £60million for him this summer, few players have more going for them.
But the 24-year-old’s actions on Sunday morning, emerging from a lockdown-defying late-night party and pictured at the scene of an incident involving a Range Rover, may have jeopardised both of those ambitions and caused significant damage to his burgeoning career.
The episode reflects appallingly on Grealish.
It is not the first time he has courted controversy since making his Aston Villa debut six years ago. He was pictured sprawled on a Tenerife street in 2015, the same year he was filmed inhaling nitrous oxide. While those episodes occurred while still a teenager, five years on the Villa captain appears to have learnt little.
Less than 24 hours before his latest indiscretion, Grealish posted a video on Twitter, urging his followers to stay indoors. “To help save lives you must stay at home,” said Grealish. “Only leave your house to buy food, to buy medicine or to exercise and remember to stay at least two metres apart. This is urgent, protect the NHS. Stay at home, save lives.”
England manager Gareth Southgate expects high standards, taking a hard line when players break the rules. Raheem Sterling, below, dropped after an altercation with Joe Gomez, and James Maddison, warned after visiting a casino having withdrawn from the squad through illness, can testify to Southgate’s tough side. And throughout his time in charge of United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has stressed that character is as important as ability. He believes players must be role models off the field. “The best players have always been the best people,” said Solskjaer.
“You have to have that value system and a certain kind of attitude about you to make a United player.”
It is not unreasonable to deduce Solskjaer took a dim view of Grealish’s latest public misdemeanour. He is fond of the phrase “due diligence” and followed that process with his United signings – Dan James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes – assessing their character as much as talent.
With the repercussions from the coronavirus pandemic heralding a more frugal approach when it comes to new players, there can be little room for doubt when it comes to making big signings.
Grealish would do well to reflect on that.