Manchester City player Jack Grealish responded to reports about his exclusion from the team's preparatory tour in Asia, confirming that his absence is due to injury and not a technical decision.
Jack Grealish
Club: Everton
Grealish was absent from Manchester City's traveling squad to Hong Kong and Seoul for the new season's preparatory camp, despite appearing at the start of the preparation period last week.
The player wrote a comment in response to an ESPN report quoted from the BBC: "Just to clarify, I am still recovering from an injury, so I have not started training yet".
He added: "I have not been excluded, so stop spreading this nonsense".
Grealish had suffered a foot injury during his loan spell at Everton last January, which ended his season early and deprived him of the chance to compete for a place in the England squad at the World Cup.
The player enters the final year of his contract with Manchester City, amid uncertainty about his future, especially after falling out of favor with former manager Pep Guardiola and with no indications of a contract renewal.
For his part, new manager Enzo Maresca did not close the door on Grealish staying, saying: "At the moment he is a Manchester City player, and it is my duty to coach all the players at the club".
He added: "I have a good relationship with Jack, he has a big heart and a wonderful personality, and then we will see what happens".
In contrast, circulating photos of Grealish drinking beverages in recent months have sparked new controversy, which could affect his chances of regaining his place in the team or attracting offers to leave.
Manchester City begins the Maresca era with a friendly against Inter Milan on Saturday, before facing South Korean league stars and then Atletico Madrid, while Grealish continues his rehabilitation program away from the team squad, awaiting the resolution of his future with the club.
