Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear has said on The Square Ball podcast that Aston Villa selling Jack Grealish to Manchester City shows that players want to play in the Champions League and win major trophies.
Kinnear has said that Villa did not have to sell Grealish as they are a rich and well-run club.
However, according to the Leeds CEO, the chance to win major trophies and play in the Champions League proved too much to resist for the England international attacking midfielder.
Premier League champions City signed Grealish from Villa last week.
According to The Sun, the Citizens paid the Villans £100 million in transfer fee for the 25-year-old.
Kinnear said on The Square Ball podcast, as transcribed by The Yorkshire Evening Post: “The reality is that ultimately, and this has been proven by Aston VIlla, a hugely ambitious club, really well run, really well backed, but the lure of Champions League and playing for a team that’s going to win trophies turned the player’s head.
“I know from Christian [Purslow], Aston Villa’s CEO, that they didn’t have to sell him, even at that value, and they wanted to keep him but when the player wants to go you have a problem.”
Grealish’s Aston Villa exit was understandable
Yes, Villa are a massive club and are rich, but City are richer and won the Premier League title just last season.
Pep Guardiola’s side also reached the Champions League final last season.
City are a very attractive team for any player, and one can understand why Grealish was lured by the Etihad Stadium outfit.
Every single player in the world has a price.
For Grealish, it was £100 million.
It will be interesting to see how the attacking midfielder does at City in the coming years.
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