Pep Guardiola's past comments on Jack Grealish show just how highly the Catalan manager rates his new signing.
On Wednesday, it was widely reported that City had agreed a Premier League record Β£100 million deal with Aston Villa for their captain and talisman.
The move was then made official on Thursday evening after Grealish completed a medical and signed a six-year contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Although his contributions for England at Euro 2020 raised his profile and generated a new level of hype, Guardiola has been on the Grealish bandwagon for a fair amount of time.
In October 2019, after City beat Villa 3-0, Guardiola showered Grealish with praise in his post-match presser.
"He's incredible. A top player. I'm happy he stayed in the Championship to defend his club when he could have gone," Guardiola said.
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"He's a talented player. He's fast in the final third, vision and he always creates something. [Grealish] is an exceptional player but too expensive for Manchester!"
Guardiola continued to share his admiration for the 25-year-old and later described him as "one of the best players in the league".
And City's main man Kevin De Bruyne, who is Grealish's favourite footballer by some distance, has also talked up Grealish.
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"I rate him very highly. He's somebody I mentioned before, talking to the teammates at City, in a random conversation," De Bruyne said ahead of Grealish's first competitive start for England in a defeat to Belgium last year.
"In England they talked about creative problems in midfield, but he brings that to a team. He deserves a shot."
Grealish, who inherits the No.10 shirt from Sergio Aguero, will line up alongside De Bruyne in a stunningly creative City midfield.
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Grealish's versatility is one of his best qualities but according to The Athletic, Guardiola is planning on playing him as a No.8 as opposed to on the left-flank.
He is to be rotated with City's Ilkay Gundogan, who enjoyed his best goalscoring season last term.
Grealish, who scored six goals and registered 12 assists for Villa in 2020/21, could make his City debut in this Saturday's Community Shield.
Featured Image Credit:Topics:Β Manchester City, Aston Villa, Football, Pep Guardiola, Jack Grealish, Premier League
