Maresca hints Grealish exit imminent as Man City crush Palace without him

Jack Grealish was absent from Manchester City’s matchday squad as they beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca confirming a decision on the winger’s immediate future is expected within days.

Maresca spoke to Grealish on Thursday before deciding to leave him out of the travelling party, citing the likelihood of a departure — almost certainly on loan — before the transfer window closes. “We’ll see what happens in the next 48-72 hours,” the City boss said after the match. Everton and Aston Villa have both been linked with a move for the England international.

Grealish had featured as a second-half substitute in both the Community Shield against Arsenal and the Premier League opener against Bournemouth, but City have not planned to retain him for the full season. He remains under contract at the Etihad, and no agreement with another club had been reached at the time of Maresca’s comments, leaving open — if unlikely — the possibility that he stays.

City showed little sign of missing the 29-year-old, with Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland each scoring twice in a commanding win. Palace made a bright start in front of their own supporters, but the visitors quickly asserted control.

“I think the performance overall was good,” Maresca said. “We struggled for the first five or ten minutes because we were pressing in the wrong way and then we adjusted something. We were in control. We scored four and could probably have scored more and we didn’t concede chances.”

Maresca has consistently maintained since taking charge that it is his responsibility to coach Grealish for as long as he is a City player, but the decision to omit him entirely from the squad suggests the club now considers his exit the most likely outcome before the deadline.