Manchester City has officially announced its squad for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, and the list is notable for the absence of two prominent players: Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker. The omission of these two England internationals has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about their future with the club.
The 27-man squad, set to compete in the expanded 32-team tournament in the United States, does include several new faces. Recent acquisitions such as Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Marcus Bettinelli have all been included, signaling the club's intent to integrate these players into the squad quickly. Also included are young talents like Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Claudio Echeverri.
Grealish's exclusion is particularly noteworthy. The 29-year-old winger, who arrived at City with high expectations, has struggled to secure a consistent place in the starting lineup. Last season, he only started in seven Premier League games. His absence from the Club World Cup squad further casts doubt on his future at the Etihad Stadium, with some suggesting that both the player and the club are open to a parting of ways this summer. There have even been hints from England head coach Thomas Tuchel that Grealish would benefit from a move to gain more playing time and secure his place in the national team.
Walker's omission is also significant. The 35-year-old right-back, who spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, is another experienced player seemingly nearing the end of his time with Manchester City. Despite his past contributions, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory in 2023, it appears unlikely that he will feature prominently under Pep Guardiola moving forward.
Despite these absences, the squad boasts considerable strength and depth. Rodri, has recovered from an ACL injury. John Stones is also included despite missing recent games due to a thigh injury. James McAtee is absent as he is captaining England at the Under-21 European Championship.
Manchester City is set to begin their Club World Cup campaign against Wydad AC. The inclusion of new signings and the return of key players from injury will provide Guardiola with options as they aim to add another trophy to their collection.
