Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken up for the first time on Joao Cancelo’s exit since he joined Bayern Munich on loan [with option to buy] until the end of the season. The versatile full-back was shipped to Guardiola’s former club in a hush hush as there were rumours that it was Joao Cancelo’s falling out with Guardiola in recent days which led to his departure.
The Portuguese was also understood to have grown frustrated over the lack of gametime since returning from the World Cup. Cancelo only started three of City’s ten games in post the World Cup break and further sat out five games as an unutilised substitute. The tipping point came against Arsenal in the FA Cup when Cancelo reportedly confronted Guardiola over his benching, and that was the last conversation he had with the Spaniard before being ousted to Bayern.
‘He wants to play every single game’ – Guardiola explains why Joao Cancelo was loaned to Bayern
While it was ultimately due to the lack of playing time that Joao Cancelo left the defending Premier League champions, it however happened in an unpleasant way. According to The Athletic, Cancelo had a bust up with Guardiola on City’s training ground ahead of their final drill before the FA Cup game against Arsenal. The 28-year-old demanded an explanation from his manager over the deduction in his game time overall.
Meanwhile, academy starlet Rico Lewis was impressing after replacing Joao Cancelo and Guardiola was happy to lend out more minutes to the 18-year-old, even if that meant benching Cancelo. Tensions boiled up and the volcano erupted ahead of the Gunners’ visit, when the former Juventus full back apparently threatened the club that he will leave if not given regular game time. And an infuriated Guardiola said that’s it and sent him out.
The City boss has now sed light on the whole episode, as he explained:
“First I wish him the very best, at the end of the season… next season I don’t know what’s going to happen. He’s been an incredible figure in last two PLs. After World Cup he didn’t play, we played in a different way, I liked it and I gave minutes to others who played in that different way.
“Everyone has their own character, personality, he likes to play, loves to play. He can’t be happy if he’s not playing so we decide for him to go to Munich. He wants to play every single game and hopefully that can happen in Munich.“
City have also included a £61m buy option in Joao Cancelo’s loan deal, which however is not a mandatory one. But it seems the full back is already making his case for the Bavarians to trigger the buy option. He right away made his full debut against Mainz and even notched up an assist. Asked whether Bayern will exercise the £61m buy option, Guardiola said:
“Listen if Bayern want Joao it’s because he’s a beyond exceptional player, so I’m not going to say one bad word about him. His work ethic, passion, skills. Everyone knows it. It happened one or two days before the transfer window. I’m really happy with the squad, always have been. I’m not sure what’s best to have, one in the bank or be criticised to spend more. We can handle the situation. I trust a lot in the players we have. If not I’d say to my bosses ‘I think we should do this’.”