Grealish went through a 72-hour "wild" period. Images of the Manchester City midfielder partying and drinking were spread across social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc. Grealish truly became the "master" of endless celebrations, from Istanbul to Ibiza, and finally, Manchester.
A Drunken Man in Manchester
In addition to his talent on the football field, Grealish is also a top-class partygoer. After the end of the 2021/22 season, the £100 million signing chose Ibiza as his place to unwind. Images from the media afterwards showed Grealish looking worn out and lacking energy. He was said to have consumed excessive amounts of alcohol with his friends.
A year later, Grealish recreated an even more authentic party image. The English midfielder was heavily intoxicated in Ibiza (Spain). On his way back to England to attend the celebration for the treble (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League) with Man City, Kyle Walker had to support his teammate. During the bus parade for the Man City players, Grealish continued to revel in alcohol.
"I'm a turkey and turkeys need to be fed," Grealish repeatedly told his teammates, shirtless and with his eyes half-closed. It was the behavior of someone heavily intoxicated for several days. Erling Haaland responded to his teammate's request by pouring him more alcohol. This image did not escape the eyes of fans and photographers.
After Man City defeated Inter Milan to win the Champions League in the 2022/23 season, alongside the articles praising the team's great achievements, the topic of "Grealish's drinking" was also explored from various perspectives. Fans worried about the former Aston Villa midfielder, fearing he would follow the path of Paul Gascoigne, a talented footballer who struggled with alcohol addiction.
The Daily Mail showed more sympathy towards Grealish. The British newspaper believed that the £100 million signing was truly an interesting personality in the football world. A player whose "human qualities" were clearly evident, unlike a robot. This writing style implies that modern players live and train strictly according to rules, which prevents them from expressing their strong individuality.
Grealish may be aware of the harmful effects of alcohol. He is not unfamiliar with the stories of the consequences George Best or Paul Gascoigne faced by choosing alcohol as a means of relaxation. However, the English international seems to care very little about that. Grealish lives by his own beliefs. He is unique, unlike the rest.
"Everyone is different, right? Look at Erling Haaland. He's the most professional person I've ever seen. Haaland is very diligent in training, taking perfect care of his body. Everything around Haaland revolves around recovery exercises, ice baths, and strict diets. That's why Haaland is Haaland. I swear I could never be like him," Grealish told journalist Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail.
"Once, he told me not to go out partying. I told him to keep quiet and go soak himself in an ice bath. That's our personality. We choose different ways to live," the former Aston Villa midfielder added.
Over the past decade, fans have heard a lot about the story behind Cristiano Ronaldo's success. A disciplined superstar who avoids alcohol and focuses on training. Ronaldo has become a role model for young players to follow.
Grealish goes against what is considered the right values. He represents a spirit of freedom, a wild soul, sometimes even crazy. The image of Grealish drinking undoubtedly leads to negative thoughts. The English midfielder will face criticism. However, Pep Guardiola does not intervene much in his player's lifestyle. Because he has strong belief that.
