I signed Jack Grealish for Aston Villa after Maradona moment – Man City ace's critics are jealous

Jack Grealish first caught the eye of an Aston Villa scout after dribbling the length of the pitch. The 29-year-old winger will return to Villa Park this weekend to face his former side as Manchester City look to transform their fortunes.

Pep Guardiola's side have won just one of their last 10 games across all competitions, defeating Nottingham Forest at the start of December. Manchester City have suffered heavy defeats to Sporting CP in the Champions League and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The English top-flight champions have also dropped points to Liverpool and Manchester United, denting their hopes of winning a historic fifth successive title. With Guardiola under pressure to turn things around on Saturday afternoon, the Spaniard will be hoping Grealish can roll back the years at Villa Park.

The England international, who joined Manchester City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a British record fee of £100m, has struggled to impress this year. While Grealish's form has been subject to criticism, his talent has never been questioned, having earned comparisons to Diego Maradona as a child.

In an interview with Birmingham Live three years ago, a former Aston Villa scout recalled the moment he realised Grealish was a special player. The playmaker caught Jim Thomas' eye on the Tythe Barne Lane playing fields in Shirley in 2002.

"You couldn't fail to miss him," said Jim. "As soon as I'm there he's got the ball in his own penalty area and dribbled right the way through the team. He was very small. It was like looking at Maradona! I went down to Highgate United and Jack was playing in the under-eights."

Then, on how Grealish was invited to play for his boyhood club, the former Aston Villa scout added: "There was a lady walking around with a push chair, a pram, and it was his mother Karen. I said, 'I've come to have a look at your son, would he like to come to Villa?'

"She puffed out her cheeks and said, 'I'll say he would'. What happened then he'd go in twice a week at Bodymoor and he's never looked back. His family are marvellous people, they took him all the time."

Grealish was heavily scrutinised even during his days at Villa Park. Jim added: "I mean they're all jealous of him, these people who criticise him. They can't handle him out there on the pitch.

"And it hasn't surprised me, where he's got to, becoming one of the best players. He's very level-headed as well. I saw him at the play-off final and he spoke to me and asked if I was all right."

According to Birmingham Live, Grealish and Jim have stayed in touch since that day on the Tythe Barne Lane playing fields. When the former Aston Villa scout celebrated his birthday in 2021, the former Holte End captain sent him a signed shirt.

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Manchester City wrapped up the 2023/24 season with a fourth successive Premier League title, but they missed out on another Treble with defeat in the FA Cup final and Champions League quarter-finals. It's now time for Pep Guardiola and co to turn their attention to the transfer window.

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