Jack Grealish concedes the constant reference to his price tag after every subdued performance does "annoy" him.... but admits he needs to start "upping my game".
The Manchester City star, who is into his second season at the Etihad, cost the champions £100m in the summer of 2021. It remains a record for a British player, but the value placed upon him continues to be a talking points after his displays.
Grealish, who had flourished at Aston Villa, joined a team already flowing with stars and no longer stands out like he once did. The England international isn't even a guaranteed starter with the 27-year-old notching just six times in his first season.
It has all led to the spotlight being firmly on him every time he takes to the pitch. Grealish has long been a player who operates with huge confidence and admits the price tag doesn't weigh him down, but it is a cause of frustration when people use it against him.
He told BT Sport : "Do you know what? I'm not really bothered about the price-tag, at the end of the day, that was my release clause, that's what Villa thought I was worth. Man City paid that for me, I've noticed in the past six months, especially, it's constantly [a talking point], if I was worth £20m, I think I could play games, not have a good game and people wouldn't say a thing.
"But because it's £100m, everyone talks about it, that side of it it's a bit annoying. I think in the future, it's something to look back on, being the first British £100m player but I need to start upping my game, performing and scoring goals, getting assists.
"But it's weird, people talk about me scoring goals, there's no better feeling in football but what's crazy is, I've never actually been - you know you have them types of wingers that constantly score - I've never actually been a type of winger that scores."
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Grealish has scored just once this season as City continue to set a high bar. The playmaker's most impressive year to date is 10, which underlines his point that he's never been the prolific type of No.10 who will regularly be hitting double figures.
Despite the outside noise the City star firmly retains the faith of his manager, who continues to utilise him regularly. The Catalan said: “We didn’t sign for the incredible goals or assists at Aston Villa. It was another reason and when he played he did it. I want [him] to make goals and assists and he does too. But it’s not about that, it’s about his contribution without the ball and what he can produce for the other ones.”
“I’m more than happy and delighted with what he’s doing. Now it’s just a question of time to get back a little bit his momentum he had at the beginning of the season.”
