Jack Grealish finally break free from Manchester City and join Everton and the way he do it tell you everything about his frustration under Pep Guardiola because when he sit down for his first official interview as Everton player he no even waste time to drop small shade for the man wey manage him for City he no call Pep name direct but the message clear he say at Everton he go finally play football with freedom he go finally express himself he go finally be himself again and that one alone sound like he dey tell the world that under Pep he never really feel free he never really get the chance to show his true football he just feel like robot inside system and now he don run away
Grealish move shock plenty people because nobody really expect say he go leave Manchester City so fast especially after winning Premier League and Champions League with them but if you watch am well you go see say the relationship between him and Pep don dey strain since last season Pep no trust him again Pep start to drop him for big games Pep dey use other players wey dey give more pressing and more discipline inside system and Grealish wey come City with price tag of £100m suddenly dey reduced to bench role and sometimes he no even make matchday squad again that one pain him deep because this na player wey leave Aston Villa where he be hero captain legend and come City to be superstar but instead he turn bench warmer
When transfer window open Everton move sharp David Moyes wey just take over Everton after Sean Dyche waka see the opportunity he know say Grealish dey frustrated he know say Everton need big signing to lift the fans he move personally he call Grealish he promise am freedom he promise am football he promise am chance to lead again and Grealish jump at the offer he even tell his agent make the deal happen by force because he don tire of Guardiola style he no wan stay another season under Pep and just rot for bench
The interview wey he do as Everton player no be small one because the words heavy he say he dey happy to finally join club wey value creativity club wey allow players to play with freedom club wey believe in expression club wey go let am play his natural game if you listen well you go hear the hidden dig for Pep because Pep dey always control everything Pep system dey always demand that players no fit express too much you must follow structure and that one dey suffocate players like Grealish wey be free spirit
Even football pundit Richard Keys no waste time he call the move fantastic he say Grealish fit even become Everton new Duncan McKenzie and Everton fans wey long time no see star signing of this size go crazy social media burst with joy some dey shout welcome home some dey shout finally we get baller wey go bring magic some even dey laugh say Pep waste this kind talent for bench only for Everton to reap the benefit
But the move no come without wahala because Grealish get history with Nathan Patterson wey be Everton right back and both of them don clash before online and on pitch now them go share dressing room the reunion go awkward but football na football once Grealish start balling Everton fans no go even remember the beef
The reaction no end there because Erling Haaland himself post message under Grealish Instagram announcement he say I miss you already bro and drop love emojis that one show say even inside City squad Grealish still get bond with teammates but the problem na Pep Guardiola because many insiders talk say Grealish no fit cope with Pep pressure anymore Pep dey demand perfection Pep no dey allow players wey like to enjoy ball to really shine except you dey give 100% intensity all the time and Grealish no be that type
For England too this move get big meaning because if Grealish stay bench for City he fit miss the World Cup in 2026 but now with Everton he go play week in week out he go be leader again and Gareth Southgate go see him sharp and fit him back into England plans this move fit even save his international career because everybody know say Southgate no dey like risk players wey no dey play regular football
The Everton fans dey dream big already some dey even talk say with Grealish plus Dominic Calvert Lewin and young players like Onana the team fit shock Premier League this season and avoid relegation wahala and maybe push for mid table safety but for them the signing alone don already feel like trophy because na long time Everton sign player wey fit trend worldwide
For Manchester City fans the reaction mix some dey vex say Grealish no really live up to his £100m price tag he no deliver numbers like goals and assists and maybe he no fit Pep style anyway but some dey sad say he go because they believe Grealish bring different energy to the squad he bring fun he bring joy and he bring skills wey fit unlock low block even Pep himself try to act cool about the move he say Grealish give his best he help them win titles and he wish him well but the truth be say everybody sabi the relationship break down
Behind the scenes Grealish push hard to make the transfer happen insiders talk say he even tell his agent he no mind reduce his wages just to get move out because he no dey happy again and sometimes happiness matter pass trophies he win almost everything for City but he no dey smile again he want joy he want love of the game again
For David Moyes this move na masterstroke because as he come back to Everton after West Ham he need big statement he need to win fans back he need to show say he still get eye for top talent and by convincing Grealish he don send message to Premier League say Everton no be small club they still fit attract big names
Now the big question remain whether Grealish go shine for Everton or he go struggle again because Everton no be City Everton no get the same squad strength but maybe that na what he need he no need to hide behind De Bruyne or Bernardo Silva again he no need to wait for Pep instructions he go be main man and the team go build around him
The Premier League dey already buzz because every match wey Everton play now eyes go dey on Grealish people want see if he go prove Pep wrong people want see if he go show the freedom football wey he dey talk about people want see if he go rise again and turn superstar like the way he be for Aston Villa
And make we no forget the cultural side of Grealish he no just be footballer he be celebrity from the hair to the socks to the style Everton don suddenly get global shine just by signing him you go see Everton shirts with Grealish name everywhere the PR value huge this one na win win for club commercially and emotionally
At the end the whole story na saga of freedom vs system Pep Guardiola represent the system strict tactical control Grealish represent freedom flair joy of football and now the battle don separate them Grealish go Everton to find himself again and maybe just maybe prove that sometimes freedom fit beat system
