Jack Grealish stole the show during Manchester City’s title celebrations on Monday night, and the England star is quickly becoming one of football’s most popular players
Manchester City celebrated their fourth Premier League title in five years in style on Monday night – and nobody seemed to enjoy themselves more than Jack Grealish.
The 25-year-old made headlines in the summer when he joined City in a £100million move that smashed the British transfer record, and although he’s struggled to live up to expectations in his first season at the Etihad, he enjoyed his first taste of domestic glory on Sunday.
In the wake of Grealish’s iconic title celebrations on Monday night, Daily Star Sport takes a look at all the reasons why Grealish is quickly becoming everybody’s favourite footballer…
He loves a good time
As seen on Monday night, the England star loves a good time. A number of City stars and Pep Guardiola were all good value during their title celebrations, but it was Grealish who stole the show – with some fans even cheekily quipping on social media that Grealish had ‘repaid his transfer fee’ with his antics.
From strutting out on to the big stage with a Vodka Coke in one hand and a beer in the other, to telling Bernardo Silva he was “miles off it” in Sunday’s title decider, Grealish was fully living his best life.
No Filter
In an era of robotic responses and social media accounts being run by PR teams, Grealish is refreshingly honest when it comes to speaking his mind.
After being heavily scrutinised by fans after his £100m move, Grealish was his own harshest critic with a blunt but fair assessment of his first year at the Etihad in an interview last year.
He told The Telegraph: “I’ve found it a lot more difficult than I thought I would, adapting to a different manager and team-mates. At first I thought I’d have more of the ball, get more assists and goals but it doesn’t work like that at all. I’ve had nowhere near as much of the ball as I used to get at Villa
“I wouldn’t say I’ve struggled, but I found it hard to get used to at the start. I’ve not had the assists and goals I got last season, but I’m never one to doubt myself.”
He loves the banter
Let’s be honest, Grealish absolutely loves the banter.
After making fun of Bernardo, Grealish went on to take the mick out of Riyad Mahrez in a video with Bernardo himself. In a clip where the duo playfully revealed the secret behind City’s win, the Portuguese midfielder even quipped that the final trick was leaving Grealish on the “f***ing bench” – something that left the former Villa man in stitches.
It’s clear that Grealish doesn’t take himself too seriously and just loves a laugh – even if it’s at his own expense.
Heart of gold
As much as Grealish is up for a laugh off the pitch, the winger has gone viral for his heart of gold over the past 12 months.
The friendship that Grealish has struck up with Abbie Pinder, a 14-year-old Sunderland fan, has been heartwarming.
A clip of Grealish making the emotional youngster’s day went viral earlier this year. And her father revealed has since revealed to The Manchester Evening News that Grealish even invited Abbie and her family to a future match as his guests.
Rattles opponents
With his box of tricks, Grealish is the ultimate wind-up merchant and he’s left more than one opponent rattled since bursting on to the scene at Villa Park.
Grealish wins more than his fair share of fouls and is often subjected to a kicking whenever he’s on the pitch. His ability to get under an opponents skin was perfectly highlighted during City’s Champions League triumph over Atletico Madrid, where had Sime Vrsaljko and Stefan Savic on strings.
The duo were visibly agitated after being outdone by Grealish – much to the delight of everybody else.
Not a bad player
As well as being box-office off the pitch, Grealish isn’t too bad on it, either.
The boyhood Villa fan has enjoyed a rapid rise over the past couple of years since helping Villa earn promotion to the Premier League, culminating in his big-bucks switch to the Etihad.
Grealish hasn’t been at his best since joining Guardiola’s side, but he’s still one of the most exciting players to watch in English football with his technical wizardry – and there should still be plenty more to come.
SOURCE: dailystar.co.uk
