JACK GREALISH has named Bernardo Silva as the best team-mate he’s ever had.
The £100million Manchester City ace has played with superstars including Kevin De Bruyne and Harry Kane at club and international level.
But when opening up about how he’s adapted to life at City, he picked out Silva in particular as “probably” the best of the lot.
Speaking to reporters while with England this week, Grealish said: “Technically, I’m better. It is so much more difficult than I thought.
“One of the best players I’ve played with – and he’s changed the way I see football – is Bernardo Silva.
“Out of everyone I’ve played with, he is probably the best. The way his brain works is crazy.
“He will go and get the ball off the keeper and dribble with it from the six yard box. I remember one game last season: the manager told Bernardo to come get the ball off Ederson.
“So Ederson puts the ball down, gives it to Bernardo who goes off on his little dribble around. I was like ‘what the f*** does this c*** think he is doing? He thinks it’s school football’. It was unbelievable.”
While chatting to the press, the 27-year-old also admitted his regret at making a dig at Miguel Almiron during last season’s title celebrations.
Asked if it had come up with Three Lions team-mate and Newcastle star Callum Wilson, Grealish said: “Yes it has. It was the day after the season finished and obviously I’d had a few drinks.
“That was one thing I regret. He said something about me in the interview the other day when he wished me the best.
“I thought ‘what a guy’ because if somebody had said that about me, I’d have probably been the other way and been like ‘f*** it’.
“I messaged Matt Targett because I’m close with him from Villa and I said to him ‘can you message him for me and say to him that I apologise, I obviously didn’t mean it’.
“Matt said ‘he’s a lovely kid and that he’s harmless and doesn’t really speak a lot of English. He won’t really be bothered’.
“When I look back on that, that was just one thing that was stupid of me to say. I didn’t realise it was a video to go out, I thought it was just private.
“But even in private, I shouldn’t have said it because he’s a fellow professional. I’m actually buzzing for him this season. I’ve had a lot of stick off the Newcastle fans and rightly so.”
Grealish will hope to be in action as England take on Senegal in the World Cup round of 16 tomorrow – having come off the bench in all three games so far in Qatar.
On pushing for a place in Gareth Southgate’s starting XI, he added: “I think it’s a difficult one for the manager.
“No matter what he does he’s never going to win, because if Phil (Foden) doesn’t start, it’s ‘Phil’s gotta start’. If Rashy (Marcus Rashford) doesn’t start, it’s ‘Rashy’s on fire, he’s gotta start’.
“He’s proved himself as a brilliant manager over the past few years since he’s been England manager.
“He’s done well in the tournaments, he’s led us again as group winners going into the last 16. I think sometimes the subs have as much of a part to play as the starters.”
