Manchester United: City star Jack Grealish reveals he was ‘really close’ to Old Trafford switch

Jack Grealish has revealed he was ‘really close’ to joining Manchester United, 12 months before he went to Man City for £100million. 

Grealish became the most expensive Premier League player last summer when he made the move to east Manchester to join Pep Guardiola‘s side.

But it transpires that things could have been very different had United managed to seal negotiations to coax him away from Aston Villa. 

Jack Grealish (left) almost joined Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) at Manchester United in 2020

Twelve months later he became the most expensive Premier League player at £100million

‘I was really close to going, but nothing happened in the end,’ Grealish told the Telegraph.

‘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 Christian Purslow [Aston Villa’s chief executive] and my agent “if I’m not leaving, I’ll sign my new contract”.’

Manchester United’s management got a close look at Grealish in that September pre-season friendly at Villa Park.

Following a pre-season friendly against United, Grealish (left) decided to sign a new contract

But with no deal seemingly forthcoming on the eve of the 2020-21 season, Grealish was keen to clarify his future and ensure Villa got a fair return when he did depart. 

Grealish added: ‘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 £100m.’ 

Grealish was captain of Villa, his boyhood club, at the time and he elected to commit his future for another year where he battled injuries to get into England’s squad for Euro 2020.

United were keen on the England international but eventually overlooked the deal and went for £73m Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo 12 months later when Grealish chose to go to City.  

He had one more season at Villa and impressed Man City enough for them to sanction a deal

Much like Sancho down the road at Old Trafford, Grealish has made a slow start to life in Manchester. 

Grealish has two goals and three assists in 15 matches for City so far this season and detailed how the adaptation has been trickier than he expected when he signed. 

Having spent recent weeks out injured following the last international break, Grealish is hoping to win back his place in the side for City’s visit of his boyhood club Villa in what is his first return to Villa Park since departing.