England midfielder Jack Grealish aimed a brutal swipe at Newcastle United attacker Miguel Almiron during Manchester City's raucous title-winning celebrations. Grealish, 26, quipped in a video clip that team-mate Riyad Mahrez "played like Almiron" during the champions' final-day victory over Aston Villa.
The Algerian international was substituted for Raheem Sterling in the 56th minute of that vital contest with his team trailing 1-0. Pep Guardiola's men went on to fall further behind before three goals in the space of five minutes from Ilkay Gundogan (two) and Rodri wrapped up the title and saw off nearest challengers Liverpool, who overcame Wolves 3-1.
Elsewhere, Almiron was replaced in the 89th minute as the Magpies ended their campaign with a 2-1 triumph at Burnley that sealed the hosts' relegation to the Championship. The match meant Newcastle's Paraguayan international has netted just once in his last 43 Premier League outings - a run stretching back to February 2021.
That solitary strike - his stunning winner against Crystal Palace - did win the Premier League Goal of the Month for April, but that did not prevent the 28-year-old South American from being the butt of Grealish's cutting jibe. Taking the mic during the Etihad club's open-top bus parade of Manchester yesterday and commenting on that Villa victory, the England playmaker joked: "Riyad, take him off the pitch, as soon as possible. He played like Almiron."
Both Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne were then pictured laughing at Grealish's merciless banter. Earlier, in the evening, Portuguese midfield maestro Silva had also been the subject of more jesting from Grealish who, while reflecting again on the Villa victory, wisecracked: "The main person I want to thank is Bernardo Silva for coming off in the 70th minute as we was miles off it yesterday."
Neither Mahrez or Silva are likely to be upset by Grealish's remarks. Both, it is fair to say, had considerably better campaigns than the former Aston Villa favourite and Almiron.
Mahrez top-scored for the champions with 24 goals in all competitions, whilst Joao Cancelo was the only outfield player to start more league games than Silva, who also finished the season with a 90 per cent pass rate. Grealish - an unused substitute on the final day - featured in 26 Premier League contests, including 22 starts, and scored just three times.
