Man City has big hopes for versatile Grealish
Manchester City can take Jack Grealish to another level after the England midfielder's Premier League record signing from Aston Villa, manager Pep Guardiola said on Friday.
Grealish joined the English champions in a 100 million pounds (US$139 million) deal announced on Thursday.
Guardiola described the versatile Grealish as an “incredibly huge talent” and said he could play him up front, or as a winger, attacking midfielder or striker.
“I don't have any doubts that he will suit good in the way we play and his desire to become an exceptional player, or even better than he already is,” said the Spaniard.
“He arrives with incredibly positive things ... he has some of the best years of his career after making an exceptional contribution at Aston Villa, because he did amazingly there. He can get to another level with us.”
Grealish will wear the number 10 shirt vacated by City's long-serving striker Sergio Aguero, who has joined Barcelona.
Guardiola said City needed new players to stay fresh after so much success.
“When a team in the last four or five years won a lot, which we cannot deny, and we raise our level in Europe ... we need new players. Not much, a few players that can rise to the level of the players that are already here,” he said.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane said he “never refused” to train and will return to the Premier League club on Saturday amid speculation over the England International's future.
Kane did not show up for pre-season training this week amid reports that he was trying to force a move to Premier League champions Manchester City.
“It's almost ten years since I made my Spurs debut. For every one of those years, you — the fans — have shown me total support and love. That's why it hurts to read some of the comments that have been made this week, questioning my professionalism,” he tweeted. “While I won't go into the specifics of the situation, I want to clarify that I would never, and have never, refused to train. I will be returning to the club tomorrow, as planned.”
Earlier on Friday, City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed that the club was still keen to sign the England captain after an initial offer reportedly worth 100 million pounds (US$139 million) was turned down by the London club in June.