Joao Cancelo has accused Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola of telling lies about his fallout and subsequent departure from Manchester City.
After spending the second half of last season on a short-term loan deal to Bayern Munich, Cancelo is currently on another loan deal to Barcelona away from Manchester City.
The Portuguese wingback joined Barcelona on loan from Manchester City in the last hours of last summer’s transfer window.
His second loan exit from Manchester City was the only solution to his dwindling fortunes at the Etihad outfit under Pep Guardiola.
According to reports, Pep Guardiola had opted to have the Portuguese leave the club due to his reaction after he lost his starting role.
Sources close to the club reveal Guardiola was unhappy with Cancelo’s reaction and moved for the loan exit solution.
However, in an explosive rant with Portuguese outlet, A bola, Cancelo has hit back on claims he was at fault for his Manchester City exit.
He described Guardiola’s claims as lies and added that the club were ‘ungrateful’ to him despite his commitments and contributions to the team.
“Lies were told! I’ve never been a bad team-mate for them and you can ask either (Nathan) Ake or Rico (Lewis). I don’t have any superiority or inferiority complex towards them, but that’s the manager’s opinion.
“I think Man City were a bit ungrateful to me when they said that because I was a very important player in the years I was there.
”I never failed in my commitment to the club.’
To further lay out the facts of his claims, the 29-year-old added that he even had to leave his family and loved ones and play for Manchester City against Arsenal, a day after he suffered a burglary attack.
“I remember a time when I was robbed and attacked and the next day I was playing at the Emirates against Arsenal.”
Towards the end of his interview with A bola, Cancelo toned down his rant saying he wished things had gone well at City and not the other way round.
However, he insisted he made the right decision leaving the club on loan to Bayern Munich in 2023.
“I have no regrets leaving to Bayern. I made the right choice in light of the difficult situation with my career at the club.”
Cancelo will run out of his loan deal with Barcelona at the end of the season. It is understood he may not return to Manchester City again but has three years left on his contract with the club.
We reported earlier Barcelona are poised to extend his loan deal with the club, including Joao Felix’s.
Felix, another Portuguese star, fell out of favour with his parent club Atletico Madrid before two consecutive loan exits to Chelsea and Barcelona.
The Portuguese duo have had an impressive loan shifts with the Catalan giants with a combined goal contributions of 20 in all competitions
