Jack Grealish reveals the Premier League giant he "was really close" to joining before Manchester City move

Grealish breaks British transfer record

Manchester City broke the British transfer record in the summer when they splashed out 100 million pounds in order to bring Jack Grealish to the North West of England.

HE’S HERE!

We are delighted to announce the signing of @JackGrealish on a six-year deal.

Welcome to City, Jack! 💙

🔷 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/5Y3gMREmKL

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 5, 2021

While it has been a tough start to life in Manchester, his quality is undeniable, and he sat down with John Percy of the Telegraph in a wide-ranging interview.

Exclusive interview with @JackGrealish, the £100m @ManCity footballer ahead of his return to #avfc. His tears at leaving Villa & why he’ll always be a fan, Dean Smith, why he couldn’t turn down City, having “much more to give”, Pep & “unreal” João Cancelo https://t.co/WAWz2Et0Ma

— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) November 30, 2021

Of course, he is now a Citizen.

However, it could have been so different, with Manchester United coming calling for Grealish the season prior, ahead of the 2020-21 season. But how close did the deal get? As per Grealish himself, it was almost done:

“I was really close to going, but nothing happened in the end,” he says. “We played United in a pre-season game on Saturday and I wasn’t supposed to play in a cup game at Burton. But after the United game I said to Purslow and my agent ‘if I’m not leaving, I’ll sign my new contract’.

“I went in with my dog on Tuesday morning, signed the deal, and played later that day. We all agreed on the clause and if any team hit that, it’s a win-win because it means I’ve had an unbelievable season and Villa got £100million.”

Would he have improved their situation.

Ending his career with Villa?

Meanwhile, Aston Villa fans will love to hear the fact that Grealish wants to return to the midlands to finish his career with his boyhood club. The Manchester City man revealed:

“It’s a club that is so close to my heart and I definitely hope to go back there,”

“That’s always been in my mind. Ashley Young has done it and I want to do the same, 100 per cent.”

Will he get a warm reception from the Villa faithful?

Read more:

What Jack Grealish told Dean Smith after finding out he was being sacked

Barcelona told how much it will cost to sign Manchester City star who “wants to leave”

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