Emiliano Martinez has claimed that Jack Grealish 's departure has had a major impact on Aston Villa's 'inconsistent' season but admitted the England international needed to leave the West Midlands side.
The 26-year-old departed his boyhood club to join Manchester City last summer for a fee in the region of £100million, after progressing through the ranks at Villa. Grealish scored seven goals and grabbed 12 assists in his final season at the Villains as he helped his side to an 11th-place finish in the Premier League.
This was after scoring the goal to keep Villa in the top-flight in July 2020 with an emphatic equaliser at West Ham United - one of 10 he netted that season as he won the club's Player of the Year award. He was also part of the side that won the Championship play-off final with a 2-1 victory over Derby County.
