Why the fuck would gregg hold a vote including low level staffers? You are the manager. Manage. "But how does the masseuse feel about Gio's attitude?"
Gio clearly has an attitude issue. Anyone who has watched him closely at Dortmund knows that his effort level directly corresponds to his form. If he is off, he is among the laziest players I have ever seen at that level. It can be shocking. I imagine that Greggg told Gio early in camp that he wasn't starting and Gio basically shut it down from there. It's ultimately on Gio for being an insufferable brat but the situation also indicts Greggg's man-management skills.
Greggg's "leaking" of the story is ridiculous. Steve Sampson didn't confirm for years why John Harkes was dropped from the 98 squad although doing so would have spared him a ton of criticism. Ironically, greggg's attempts at deflecting the heat for not playing Gio may ultimately cost him the job because bringing Gio back on board for 2026 is far more important than retaining a shitty manager whose brother used to run the USSF. The hilarious element of the story how satisfied greggg clearly is with respect to his handling of the situation.