Joao Cancelo will leave Manchester City this summer after failing out of favor with the Citizen’s head coach, Pep Guardiola, last season following FC Barcelona’s transfer interest.
The Portugal international spent the second half of the just-concluded season at Bayern Munich after being sent out by Pep Guardiola following a loss of form before the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
What happened between Joao Cancelo and Pep Guardiola?
Joao Cancelo fell out of favor with Pep Guardiola due to an error he made that gifted Mo Salah the winning goal for Liverpool against Manchester City at Anfield and a first-half red card he received against Fulham in the English Premier League last season.
Cancelo expressed his complaints over a perceived lack of playing time and seems to have demolished his relationship with the UEFA Champions League winning team boss.
Therefore, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the 29-year-old will definitely leave the club this summer, the decision is clear on both the player and the side.
Manchester City and Joao Cancelo are looking for the best solution as the plan is to find a new club very soon.
However, Cancelo has been linked with several top European football clubs including Arsenal and Bayern Munich but Barcelona looks like a favorite to sign the Portugal International.
Xavi Hernandez, manager of Barcelona, is interested in signing Cancelo after learning that left-back Jordi Alba will be leaving for Inter Miami on a free transfer, although any transaction is contingent on the Catalans’ compliance with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules.
However, there is no assurance that Barcelona will be able to submit Man City’s estimate of 40 million euros (£34.7m).
According to reports, Arsenal have begun transfer talks with Cancelo after Bayern delayed signing him to a permanent agreement.
To make the trade permanent, the Bundesliga winners would have to pay the £60 million buy-out provision in his loan contract.
He played in 21 games for the German powerhouses, contributing to one goal and six assists.
Man City are expected to accept a deal of roughly £43 million for the fullback, who would prefer to play in La Liga.
Cancelo is familiar with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, because Arteta tutored him while serving as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has tweeted that the management at Etihad Stadium is searching for the easiest possible situation, suggesting that Cancelo has no future with the club.
Joao Cancelo’s contract with Manchester City.
Joao Cancelo joined Man City from Juventus in the summer of 2019 and put pen to paper on a 6 years contract with the Citizens that will run through the summer of 2027, including a weekly wage of 80,000 pounds.
Joao Cancelo stats for Man City.
The 182cm tall center defender registered 98 appearances for Man City since joining the team in 2019, scoring 5 goals, providing 11 assists, and keeping 41 clean sheets.
What’s next for Joao Cancelo?
The 29-year-old will look forward to securing a move away from Manchester City ahead of the 2023/2024 season with Barcelona remaining his favorite destination.
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