Pep Guardiola Snubs Veteran Duo as Man City Usher In a New Era With Fresh Signings.
Manchester City’s preparations for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup have begun. And it has already taken a surprising turn with manager Pep Guardiola excluding Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker from his 27-man squad. He has the option to name up to 35 players for the tournament in the United States.
Even so, the England team duo have been left out. Thus, sparking speculation about their futures at the Etihad. Grealish, the club’s record signing at £100 million, endured a difficult 2024/25 season. His time this season was Limited to just one Premier League start.
He was also absent from City’s final-day squad against Fulham. His omission from the Club World Cup squad is seen as a strong indicator that his time at City may be up. The 29-year-old has two years remaining on his contract and he currently earns £300,000-a-week at Man City. Even so, reportedly, clubs like Everton and Newcastle United are monitoring his situation.
Walker, meanwhile, spent the latter half of the season on loan at AC Milan after requesting a transfer in January. Milan chose not to make the move permanent. Even so, City have not reinstated him, signaling a definitive break. The 35-year-old has one year left on his contract but will likely need to secure a transfer this summer.
Guardiola’s new squad for the Club World Cup reflects a bold reshaping of City’s core. The Citizens are boasting eight new signings that they brought in during 2025. The latest arrivals are Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli. All four players have all been included for the Club World Cup.
They have been added to the squad alongside January additions Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis. Reijnders, signed from AC Milan for £46.5 million, recently said: “It’s a boy’s dream to play in the Premier League. I want to feel the intensity and energy.”
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The squad also features Rodri, who had been recovering from a long-term injury and John Stones, who was also suffering from a thigh problem. Both players could start for the side in the tournament. Other players notably absent are Kevin De Bruyne, who is leaving on a free transfer, and Mateo Kovacic due to injury.
Manchester City are set to kick off their Club World Cup title defense next week in Philadelphia against Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca. This match will be followed by group matches against Al Ain and Juventus. However, for Grealish and Walker, it seems that their time at the club may have already ended.
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