Michael Owen and Jack Grealish. (Image: Getty.)
Michael Owen has launched a scathing attack on Aston Villa fans who mocked Jack Grealish's return to the club, after starting in Manchester City's 2-1 defeat at Villa Park.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United striker posted a lengthy message on social media after feeling 'sick to his stomach' from the boos the England midfielder received.
Some sections of the home fans have taunted Grealish, who has not scored a goal for his club in 2025 and has been unable to help turn around City's turgid form of late, getting the last laugh with three points against the £100 million man.
Grealish has been regularly taunted by supporters of his boyhood club since leaving for the Premier League champions in 2021, having won a treble under Pep Guardiola and a host of trophies.
The 29-year-old looked just as frustrated as Owen, however, as he raised three fingers to the home crowd after the full-time whistle.
He had given his shirt to a member of City's traveling fanbase and reminded the vast majority at Villa Park that he had won three league titles since leaving the club.
Jack Grealish holding out three fingers to the Aston Villa crowd. (Image: Getty)
And Owen thinks Villa fans who booed Grealish should 'hang their heads in shame' and show more respect to a player who came through the club's academy and gave them eight years before leaving.
Owen claimed the reaction to Grealish's return would have been “heartbreaking” for the winger and scolded those who were meting out taunts for seeing footballers in a different light.
Owen's speech in full
“I often hear or see things in football that make my blood boil. Most people will probably feel the same way at one point or another. I suppose it's only natural when you care passionately about something, or in my case, when it's something that has consumed your entire life.
“The current capitulation of reigning champions Manchester City is enough of a story to fill pages and jam radio stations across the country. But there was another story at Villa Park yesterday that really left me feeling sore in the stomach.
“Of course, lumping a group of people together is not something I like. I've lived a life where my teammates and I have been stereotyped and it's quite boring. There will be always kind, honest, generous, respectful and caring people in all walks of life, just like there will always be mean, jealous, mean and bitter people Your job or the place you come from doesn't make you. necessarily enter into a certain category.
“But for those Villa fans who booed Jack Grealish yesterday, you fall into the second category and should hang your head in shame.
“Here's a boy who came through YOUR academy. He supported The Villa all his life and probably still does. He single-handedly took YOUR team back to the Premier League when you were average at best. He got you kept awake and in hindsight, showed you ten times more loyalty than you currently show him. He was almost never injured and regularly produced Man of the Match performances. He cost you nothing. provided you with an incredible service and saved YOUR club worth over £100 million when he left.
“I don't know Jack; I've interviewed him several times and that's it. I don't usually defend footballers either just because I was one myself. But Jack's story is just as close to perfect as it gets:
“He joined his local club and rose through the ranks from a six-year-old boy to club captain. He played over 200 games for the club and left his mark as one of the best players to have never wore the famous claret and blue jersey After gaining promotion and as captain of the club, he undoubtedly did more than his fair share to transform his team into a respectable and established Premier League side, which has resulted. undoubtedly formed the basis of how the club is seen today as the best teams, a team that has won absolutely everything and will go down in history as one of the greatest teams to ever step foot on a football field Who knows what will come next, but. Jack could retire tomorrow and will have had a career that most footballers can only dream of.
“I've said it many times but I'll say it again. Footballers are usually fans before signing their first professional contract and when they retire, they become fans again. Between the two, it's a job!
“Fans who never become footballers can happily declare their undying love for any particular team and that’s absolutely brilliant.
“Footballers, on the other hand, have limited playing time and clearly want to be as successful as possible in that short time between first and last contract.
“It is impossible for 99% of players to stay on their team throughout their career, because if they are good players, the best teams will want to sign them and if they are not good players, they will be shown the exit door quite quickly.
“When the fans see their team going through a bad patch, they all clamor for the club to buy new players. When a new player is signed, the fans of the new club call him Judas and boo him for leaving what would have easily been could have been their childhood club? Of course not; they sing their name and welcome them with open arms.
“Why then is it so different when it’s the other way around?
“In Jack's case, he is and always will be very proud of where he comes from and so it must be heartbreaking for him to have to endure the stupid and pathetic booing he had to hear yesterday.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1991928/Michael-Owen-Jack-Grealish-rant-Man-City