Manchester City forward, Jack Grealish says being left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad was the “most difficult thing I have had to deal with in my career” as it left him “heartbroken”.
Grealish came on as a substitute in England’s 3-0 warm-up win against Bosnia-Herzegovina at St James’ Park just over a week before the tournament started, but was not included in Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man squad.
England would go on to reach the final, which they lost 2-1 to Spain.
“When you are on your holidays, every time you turn on the phone or the TV you just see it [the tournament], so it was hard not to see,” added the former Aston Villa player, who has 36 England caps.
“I’ll be honest, football-wise it was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with in terms of my own career.
“I was absolutely heartbroken. For myself now moving forward, I have to just try and use that as motivation going into this season.”
Grealish cost City a British record £100m when he joined City from Villa in August 2021, one month after featuring for England in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.
“I felt I should have been in the [England] squad,” added Grealish, who was speaking on City’s pre-season tour of the United States.
“I feel like I offer something different to players in the England squad.
“But it is what it is.
“As I said, it was the hardest moment for me as a footballer. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my career.”
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