Slap- up meal at Rio’s place gave young Jack food for thought

TIPS STEERED TEEN TO THE RIGHT PATH

JACK GREALISH is delivering vintage displays for Aston Villa after he and his family enjoyed a meal of fillet steak and wine at Rio Ferdinand’s restaurant.

Grealish was a highly- rated 16- year- old when Ferdinand hosted the teenager and his mum and dad at

his Manchester eaterie in 2012. But the midfielder also devoured knowledge and information from the former England ace that night as he dreamed of becoming a Premier League star.

And, just nine years later, Ferdinand thinks the attitude and professionalism Grealish shows could one day see him in Manchester United red rather than Villa claret and blue. Ferdinand said: “I don’t care if Paul Pogba leaves United or not, Grealish is my man. I have known this guy since his teens when he came to my restaurant in Manchester. Great kid and family, he loves his football. “What you don’t see with Jack Grealish is the hard work behind closed doors and the attention to detail, the way he has trained and changed his regime.”

Ferdinand got the then- Villa trainee and his parents Kevin and Karen tickets for United’s clash with their home- town team. They did not enjoy United thumping Villa

4- 0 at Old Trafford but the family and Ferdinand enjoyed a memorable evening afterwards and the bonds remain today. Grealish was on soft drinks, fillet steak, pepper sauce and accompanying Italian pasta while his parents enjoyed some fine red wine.

But it was what he heard and witnessed that so influenced Grealish and helped him prepare for life as a Premier League star.

Ferdinand cautioned him against buying a flash car when starting out after revealing a BMW he bought sparked jealousy when he took it back to home to Peckham as a West Ham youngster.

The meal was regularly interrupted by fans coming up to Ferdinand’s table for a chat and a picture. Ferdinand had time for them all and told Grealish: “Trust me Jack, you’ll be doing this in years to come.”

He has been proved right – Grealish has since become one of England’s biggest stars. Ferdinand said: “He has looked at what he can do better. He has shown diligence in all the work he does off the pitch to get to where he is now.

“He has really drilled down on some of the areas he needs to work on and you can see a huge improvement in his numbers. He has been directly involved in 12 goals in his last 14 matches, with five goals and seven assists. Those are huge.” United could have had Grealish for just £ 200,000 back then. He now earns more than half that every week on his new contract.

But his loyalty looks set to be tested again this summer with both Manchester clubs keen on him – and it is clear where Ferdinand would like him to go.

I don’t care if Pogba goes, Grealish is my man