I stopped Jack Grealish from joining Man United - now Man City star is returning to Aston Villa

Former manager Alex McLeish has shared details of how he intervened to ensure that a young Jack Grealish remained with Aston Villa, amidst talks that he was being courted by agents aiming to secure his transfer to Manchester United. While he didn't give Grealish his first-team debut, McLeish kept an eye on him throughout his time in the academy.

Consequently, Grealish found himself on the bench during a Premier League game against Chelsea in March 2012, though it wasn't until May 2014 that he would make his official first-team appearance under Paul Lambert in a match against—ironically—Manchester City, which ended in a 4-0 loss.

Fast-forward seven years and Grealish completed a monumental transfer to City for a British record sum of £100 million and is set to return to Villa Park with his current club on Saturday. Now 29 years old, his achievements include three Premier League titles, one Champions League title, an FA Cup, along with victories in the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.

Yet, McLeish's revelations suggest that Grealish's career path might have led him to Manchester United instead.

In an interview with BirminghamLive's Claret and Blue podcast in 2020, McLeish opened up about United's interest in a then 16 year old Grealish. "At that moment we felt people were getting in contact with him to leave Villa - that was one of the main reasons to get him involved with us (in the first team)," he said, reports Birmingham Live.

"He would have been on the bench anyway because of the casualties we had. He was the best youngster coming through. When we played Man United we heard he was in a restaurant being courted by one of the agents to try and get him to Man United.

"We were a bit alarmed about that so we fought well to keep him. We knew he loved Villa, his old man as well. We had them in speaking to them. They're lovely people.

"They asked for something and the club went 'it's too much' but, finally, you come to an agreement and everybody's happy. Jack stayed at Aston Villa, which is great to see one of the great players of Villa nowadays staying with his boyhood club."

Grealish has been the subject of some frustration from a number of Manchester City fans over his subdued output. He has been exclusively used as a winger under Pep Guardiola and has registered only 14 goals in 142 City matches.

There are now questions over his future at the Etihad Stadium. He travels back to his old stomping ground this weekend when City travel to Villa Park for Saturday's lunchtime kick-off, having won every game he's played in against the Villans.

Amid Man City's poor form, Villa will fancy their chances against the champions. Supporters may give a warm reception to Grealish but will hope their team inflicts another defeat on him given a win takes the club above City in the table.

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