As a Villa fan, few players have ever had me on the edge of my seat quite like Jack Grealish. The local lad who rose through our academy, captained us back to the Premier League, and gave us some unforgettable moments, he was a legend in claret and blue, no question. But with the odd whisper about a potential return to Villa Park next season, I can’t help but feel it shouldn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fantastic player, but I don’t think coming back is the right move – not for him, and definitely not for us. Instead, I reckon a fresh start at another club could be just what he needs to rediscover his spark.
When Jack left for Manchester City in 2021 for that £100m fee, it stung a little, but I got over it quickly. He’d given everything to Villa – sticking with us through relegation, dragging us back up, and banking us a fortune to build the squad we have today. His talent earned him a shot at trophies, and he got them: a Premier League title, an FA Cup, even a Champions League medal. But now, I don’t think that Jack is the same player who used to glide past defenders with us with a cheeky grin on his face.
The main problem for me is the off-field stuff. Look, I’m not here to judge Jack’s personal life – he’s a grown man, and he’s always been a bit of a lad. But the headlines about nights out, the occasional controversy, they do stick in my mind. When he was with us, you tended to give him a pass. But Aston Villa are in a serious place now – and I worry that bringing back a high-profile figure like Jack, with all that potential baggage, might unsettle the focus Emery’s instilled. We’ve moved on from being a club that revolves around one player; we’re a team now, and I’d hate to see that balance rocked.
That said, I don’t think Jack’s finished – far from it. He’s only 29, and there’s still magic in those boots. A move to another club, Tottenham maybe, how about West Ham? He’d have the London stage and a team that could use his creativity. If he fancies it, why not a move on the continent, a club like Inter Milan or Borussia Dortmund? Both could give him a fresh start, just somewhere he’s not weighed down by Pep’s playbook. The world is his oyster.
Look, as a Villa fan, his return might make for a great story, but I’m not convinced it’d be a great move – for him or for Villa. He needs a new chapter, and we need to keep writing ours without looking back. If he does leave City, wherever he ends up next season, I hope he does well – just not in claret and blue. UTV