Jack Grealish denies claim he said ‘olé’ in Man City’s Club World Cup final win

Tempers flare between Manchester City’s Kyle Walker and Fluminense’s Felipe Melo (PA Wire)

Manchester City’s Jack Grealish has denied being disrespectful towards Fluminense during Friday’s Club World Cup final victory.

Tempers briefly flared after the final whistle as City captain Kyle Walker and Fluminense defender Felipe Melo grappled in a heated argument.

Melo subsequently blamed Grealish for stoking tensions, claiming the City winger had shouted ‘olé’.

Not once did I say ole https://t.co/wguT4ZFwc6

— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) December 22, 2023

Melo appeared to feel the England star was mocking Fluminense by using the term during the Club World Cup final, and was widely reported as saying: “This is for the fans, the fans can shout ‘olé’. The athlete on the field cannot be disrespectful.”

Grealish insisted that was not true, writing on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter: “Not once did I say olé.”

The situation quickly calmed down before City lifted their fifth trophy of the year following a comprehensive 4-0 win over the Brazilian side in Saudi Arabia.

Julian Alvarez scored twice, with Phil Foden also netting in the second half after a Nino own goal had put City two up.