Adebayo Akinfenwa has leaped to Jack Grealish’s defence after the England star made headlines during his holiday in Las Vegas.
The Manchester City record signing was pictured leaving a night club in the early hours looking rather worse for wear. The winger made his way onto an escalator with his entourage before leaving on a private bus.
Earlier that evening, it was believed that Grealish splashed out nearly £100,000 on a VIP package that included 116 bottles of champagne.
Since the picture surfaced, many former players and pundits has criticised Grealish, with former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy telling the City man to ‘surround himself with better people’.
But former Wimbledon and Wycombe striker, Akinfenwa has defended Grealish.
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Speaking to talkSPORT, the Football League legend had a stern message for Grealish’s critics.
He said: “Stop it, stop it. He’s young, he’s very good at the sport he wants to do.”
“His season’s finished, so now the narrative’s that Grealish loves a good night out and maybe he does, OK, everyone else who was young would do the same.”
“Let’s say he doesn’t reach the pinnacle of what he is, he can only have himself to blame, but everybody has an opinion.”
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“But this one, end of season, they’ve had a gruelling season, he’s in Vegas having the time of his life, which he should, and then go again.”
He added: “But everyone’s path is different, and if Grealish likes to play football for enjoyment, and live a life for enjoyment, so be it.”
“Let him live his life!”
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TalkSPORT host, Ally McCoist agreed with Akinfenwa as he referenced Boxing legend Tyson Fury and Athletics great Usain Bolt and their party lifestyle.
He said: “Tyson Fury, he told Jim White he went on a party for about two or three weeks and retained the title.”
“Usian Bolt was a party animal, loved it, but knew what his job was and was very, very good at it.”
Barry Bannan, a former team mate of Grealish’s took to Twitter to defend the England player.
He tweeted: “What is Jack Grealish actually doing wrong by being in Vegas enjoying his time off?”
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“Lay off the kid’s back. Most other Premier League players are doing exactly the same, but nothing being said!”
Topics: Football, Premier League, Jack Grealish, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Manchester City
Marcus Chan