Talented Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish could be wearing English colours at next summer’s European Championships after the 20 year old officially pledged his international future to the Three Lions. Grealish, born in Solihull to English parents, has represented Ireland at various youth levels from U15 to U21 level and qualifies to play for the Republic through his grandfather. He is a keen Gaelic footballer, and a look through his Twitter account sees plenty of “Come On You Boys In Green” hashtags.
I’ve decided to give my allegiance to England. It was not an easy decision as Ireland has a special place with me through my family. However, I have decided to represent my country of birth
Grealish had rejected a senior call up by Ireland in May earlier this year as he sought time to make a decision on his international future. To the dismay of fans in the Republic, he has chosen to go with England, and conspiracy theories have already started to make the rounds saying he made the switch for commercial reasons.
Luke Edwards from the Telegraph tweeted this “I’ve been reliably informed that Jack Grealish has elected to play for England because it makes more “commercial sense” to do so”
I've been reliably informed that Jack Grealish has elected to play for England because it makes more "commercial sense" to do so. Great
— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) September 28, 2015
Grealish’s agent is Jonathan Barnett, who is also Gareth Bale’s agent, and Barnett has publicly gone on record to say that he earlier had tried to make Bale change allegiance from Wales to England and added that his client’s refusal “had cost the latter millions and millions of pounds”. Barnett made the revelation at the recent Soccerex Convention in Manchester, saying that the Real Madrid star could have qualified for England through his grandmother.
Grealish’s father has however said that the decision was his son’s only, and added that neither he, nor Barnett, or Tim Sherwood had anything to do with it.
Grealish’s star has risen unde Tim Sherwood in the last year and a half, with the Villa gaffer saying he would not sell the 20 year old for even 60 million pounds.
Irish media sources are asking whether Martin O’Neill and Ireland could have done more to secure Grealish’s services, maybe even offering him a cap or two back in 2013 when he was a rising star for Ireland U21 but hadn’t yet set the Premier League on fire.