Aston Villa have reportedly ended their interest in Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix, sparking further suggestions of a shock return for former captain Jack Grealish…
Aston Villa’s pursuit of Joao Felix has reportedly hit the brakes, potentially paving the way for a dramatic comeback for Jack Grealish.
Mundo Deportivo suggests that Unai Emery was keen on 24-year-old Portugal star Felix, who previously had a loan stint in the Premier League with Chelsea. It seemed an agreement to bring him to Villa Park was on the cards, but now it appears they’ve backed off from the deal for reasons yet to be revealed, turning attention to other options.
With Villa’s gaze shifting from Felix, a sensational swoop for ex-skipper Grealish has been touted. Unconfirmed reports say that Villa are keeping an eye on the situation and could be mulling over a loan move for the Manchester City winger, with an option to make the deal permanent too.
Grealish, who made a £100million switch to City in 2021, spoke to The Telegraph about his enduring love for Villa shortly after his departure, as well as his desire to return one day like Ashley Young did after his time at Manchester United and Inter Milan. Their former talisman’s 18-word comment certainly left the door open to it.
“It’s a club that is so close to my heart and I definitely hope to go back there,” he said back in November 2021, via Birmingham Live. “That’s always been in my mind. Ashley Young has done it and I want to do the same, 100 per cent.”
A comeback for Grealish would be quite the coup, although it’s unclear if the 28-year-old is ready to rewind time and grace the Villa Park pitch once more. However, his limited minutes at City last season plus his struggles with England, and those intriguing past remarks, could all lead to a sensational return.
Months after leaving Villa, Grealish also expressed surprise at the negative reactions to his high-profile move. He insisted that he owes Villa “everything”, saying: “I was a bit surprised by some of the backlash when I left. I’d never want a toxic relationship with anyone there. I owe everything to them and I wouldn’t be at City without Villa.”
He had a challenging start at the Etihad, but he’s since clinched three Premier League titles, the FA Cup, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup under Pep Guardiola. Despite being a key player in City’s treble-winning squad in 2022/2023, Grealish often finds himself on the bench, with Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden usually preferred.
Since his move three years ago, Grealish has made 74 appearances for City and netted 11 goals. However, a slump in form saw him start just 36 times in all competitions last season, leading to his unexpected exclusion from England’s Euro 2024 squad.
It remains to be seen whether he views a return to Villa as a chance to revive his career. During his time with the club, he made 185 appearances, scored 29 goals, and played a crucial role in their return to the top flight in 2019 after a three-year absence.
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