Rio Ferdinand's transfer message to Jack Grealish as Kevin de Bruyne helps out
Rio Ferdinand reckons Jack Grealish should consider a move abroad after being told there is no future for him at Manchester City with Kevin De Bruyne pushing for a switch to Napoli
Rio Ferdinand reckons Jack Grealish should look beyond the Premier League after being told he has no future at Manchester City
England winger Grealish was left behind by Pep Guardiola for the Club World Cup and is currently exploring a move away from the Etihad having been demoted to a sporadic role last season. And having recently been linked with Napoli, who have just brought in Kevin De Bruyne as a free agent, Ferdinand reckons Grealish should consider getting his 'feet in the sand' of Saudi Arabia.
"I would advise Jack Grealish to play where he will be happy," Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
"He needs to find happiness with himself playing football but also within a team. I don't think any players are happy when they're not playing, especially the player that's used to being the star man in their team since he was a kid.
"He'd have been star man so to think that he's now not even being considered for big moments and big games… he needs to go where he's going to play and he's going to find happiness.
"Because at the end of your career, yes you do want trophies, but at the same time you want to be happy doing that, you want to feel a part of it. I want to see that smile and that swagger and that enjoyment factor when he plays football again and I don't think we've seen it for a while.'
Ferdinand added that returning to boyhood club Aston Villa but be a good move – but he would have Morgan Rogers for competition. And with former team-mate De Bruyne already looking to pull strings in Naples, urging his new club to strike a deal for the winger, a switch to the Serie A champions is also a reasonable shout alongside Saudi.
'Villa would be great for him but if they don't sell anyone where does he fit in?' Ferdinand added. 'I would like to see it where he gets a bit of a free role. If there's a team out there that can afford to play a structure where he goes back to that almost like a No.10 or one of the eight positions that's allowed to just roam a bit.
'That's what I would do with Jack Grealish because I think if you play him more centrally and you just give him a bit of freedom, like we saw when he was at Villa, the kid can unlock.
'If I'm him, you know where I'd go? Saudi. If I'm Jack Grealish I'm going Saudi, I'm getting my feet in the sand. I'd love to see him in Napoli, that atmosphere. Marseille with Roberto de Zerbi, where I know the fans will love him.'
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