Eberechi Eze is an artist who can win a street fight, writes CRAIG HOPE - after lighting up Wembley for Crystal Palace he should swerve a move to Man City

It is the moment all magicians fear, when the audience no longer gasps. Go and play for Manchester City and you’ll soon know the feeling. Eberechi Eze, be warned.

His goal was the difference between the teams here. But you suspect it would not have made any difference had he been in City’s side, and that is no sleight on him.

The Crystal Palace midfielder scored with his fourth touch of the game in the 16th minute. In City’s colours he would have had 40 by then — and probably done very little with any of them. That is Pep Guardiola’s philosophy — pass, possession, process, patience. But where is the penetration? The pizazz? The peril? The audience no longer gasp, you see.

Eze is a player who can take your breath away. There were not as many of those moments this time — City had 78 per cent of the ball — but he still produced the one that mattered, the one that caused those in red and blue to empty their lungs.

When Eze received his winners’ medal from Prince William, it was he who got the royal reception from the Palace fans, the loudest and warmest cheer of them all. He had made them feel glad all over, for sure. Those in the City end had long since felt the chill of an impending defeat.

In truth, there had been that contrast all day — Palace and their supporters were alive and energised, City and theirs trying and failing to reheat the enthusiasm that comes with the pursuit of a first trophy. This was their 21st Wembley visit under Guardiola. It has gone slow and it has gone stale. What they need are more like Eze. He, though, does not need them right now.

Crystal Palace matchwinner is a player Man City need - but he should think twice about moving

Eze scored with just his fourth touch of the match, demonstrating his desire and quality

He received the biggest cheer of all from fans as he collected his medal from Prince William

The 26-year-old was a City target last year, and maybe he will be again after this. Morgan Gibbs-White is said to be their preferred choice, but Eze’s numbers eclipse those of the Nottingham Forest man. It is 13 goals and 11 assists for Eze this season, six and 10 for Gibbs-White.

Oliver Glasner’s team have structure, yes, but Eze is the jazz soloist. Why would he want to be lost amid the choir at City? Look at what has happened to Jack Grealish. From Roy of the Rovers at Aston Villa, to Roy of the Rovers Return in Manchester — too cautious, too functional. He has won medals, but his free spirit has been placed under lock and key. Eze to City would feel like a similar trade.

And where was Grealish here when his team needed some personality to break the mundanity of their approach? He was sat on the bench. Even when Guardiola sought to inject some creativity, he turned to a debutant ahead of Grealish. Claudio Echeverri, 19, had not even been in matchday squads since arriving from River Plate in January. Grealish could only stare into the distance when the rookie was introduced. Phil Foden, likewise, only came on 14 minutes from time, and did nothing.

Eze should consider the above when making his next move, if there is to be one this summer. A player with magic in his boots should only play where wands are permitted. A player who can cast spells doesn’t need his sorcery put in a box. It should be risk, not retention. Maybe being the leading man at Palace is the best stage for him after all.

For without him, their season would not have had its fairytale ending. Don’t forget, it was he who set them on their way to victory in the semi-final. Players like Eze were made for these occasions. The same way the likes of Stanley Matthews and Michael Owen have bent this final to their will — Eze has that scriptwriter’s touch.

He, like everyone else inside Wembley, had watched City put the ball to sleep for the opening quarter of an hour. His only involvements were an interception and a couple of short passes. But then, the ball and the stadium opened their eyes. Palace broke and Eze knew where to go — the penalty area. Daniel Munoz crossed and Eze showed a greater want than any in sky blue to meet the delivery. The goal was as much about that desire as it was the quality of his volleyed finish. He has that in him, an artist who can still win a street fight.

Eze is a player with magic in his boots and should only play where wands are permitted

He should look to the struggles of free spirits like Jack Grealish and Phil Foden at Man City

Eze would have taken Guardiola's eye but it would be a shame to see him play the percentages

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There were a few strokes when he brought colour to Wembley’s canvas, but he needed a chisel as much as a paintbrush. There were five recoveries, four duels won and three interceptions. Thomas Tuchel would have noted how Eze married flair with fire. The danger for Eze is that Guardiola would have noted it, too. But to give that jazz soloist a spreadsheet and ask him to play the percentages would be a crying shame.

Just like Grealish and maybe even Foden need out of City, Eze does not need in. He should be ahead of both when Tuchel picks his next XI. On form, is there an English attacking midfielder who gets close? Not Cole Palmer. Not Jude Bellingham. Gibbs-White, perhaps, but his goal against Leicester last weekend broke a 16-game scoreless run.

Eze is the man of the moment, and he has the winning goal in an FA Cup final to prove it. The audience still gasps when he gets the ball. Let us hope it stays that way.