Jack Grealish to join Lionel Messi in MLS?! Man City outcast backed to 'build his brand' with move to US

Grealish has had an immensely frustrating fourth season with City since his then record £100 million ($132m) move from Aston Villa, starting just seven Premier League games and posting only one goal and one assist. And former Villa and Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke has advised Grealish to call time on his spell with Pep Guardiola's side and join Lionel Messi and other top names in leaving Europe's top five leagues to end their career in the States.

Speaking via Samba Slots, Yorke said: "If I was Jack you'd look to move on because ultimately you want to play football, he can't just sit there because he’s not getting any younger, he is close to 30 and things won’t get any easier. He is a good footballer but never been that fast and will lose a yard of pace, he needs game time to get back up to speed and maybe that can be somewhere else in the Premier League. Maybe he will think about how he won everything in the game and think about going to Saudi or to the MLS, to close his account for his career. In the MLS he could build his brand, but he’ll have to ask himself what else he wants to do in his career."

Grealish had a difficult first season with City but grew into the team in his second campaign, playing a big part in the treble triumph. But he struggled to keep the momentum going, seeing his game time limited the following season due to the arrival of Jeremy Doku and a series of unfortunate injuries. But this has been his worst campaign to date and he has just one year before his contract expires in 2026.

Yorke added: "It's not just the season, it’s been coming for the last couple of seasons, that's why it surprised me that he's still sticking around because the writing is clearly on the wall. Pep Guardiola has obviously made up his mind and maybe he has decided that he'd run his contract out so that he's able to then leave on a free. Or maybe he just fancied himself getting back into the team and that hasn't quite materialised."

Grealish was a huge hit with American fans when he visited New York last season as part of City's pre-season tour. He was mobbed by supporters in Times Square, reducing one female admirer to tears.

Grealish has not started a Premier League game for City for more than six weeks but he could be in the frame for Saturday's FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. He has played in all of City's previous five matches in the cup run and started in the semi-final win over Nottingham Forest at Wembley last month.