Joao Cancelo: Bayern Munich in talks to sign Manchester City defender - BBC Sport
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Joao Cancelo: Bayern Munich in talks to sign Manchester City defender

By Simon StoneBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Man Citycomments590

Joao Cancelo
Joao Cancelo has scored five Premier League goals for Manchester City

Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo is in line to join German champions Bayern Munich before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

A deal for the Portugal full-back is still to be completed but the proposal is for an initial loan with a 70m euro (£61.5m) option to buy in the summer.

The 28-year-old signed for City from Juventus in 2019 and has made 98 Premier League appearances.

He has won two league titles and the EFL Cup under Pep Guardiola.

Cancelo had previously been viewed as one of the key players in Guardiola's squad due to his ability to drift inside and act as a playmaker when City had the ball. 

His performances saw him named in the PFA Premier League team of the year for the last two seasons.

However, he has only started three games since the World Cup and his last two appearances were in the defeats by Southampton and Manchester United.

The emergence of teenager Rico Lewis and Nathan Ake's improved form has left the City manager feeling confident he has enough defensive options to cover the exit of a player who is keen to move to Bayern in order to keep playing at the highest level possible.

In December 2021, Cancelo suffered cuts to the face after attempting to fight off a gang of four intruders at his home in a "horrific robbery."

He signed a new five-year deal with the reigning Premier League champions in February 2022, extending his contract at Etihad Stadium until 2027.

Last summer City sold defender Oleksandr Zinchenko and forward Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal, as well as Raheem Sterling to Chelsea in a £50m deal.

Analysis - Tactical tweaks reduced Cancelo's influence

Pep Guardiola has never made any secret of the fact he won't keep an unhappy player.

Joao Cancelo is not happy at his limited game time, Bayern have made an offer and Guardiola has gone for it. It is as simple as that.

The brutal truth is that, in a season where City have struggled to find the consistency and effectiveness of recent seasons, Cancelo is one of those who has not reached the required levels.

Erling Haaland's arrival has triggered some tactical tweaks and Cancelo is no longer the force he was.

In addition, the emergence of teenager Rico Lewis at right-back and the improved form of Nathan Ake, who made a match-winning contribution from left-back against Arsenal on Friday, has left Guardiola confident about his options.

There are question marks over the fitness of John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias, so this move is not without risk.

But Guardiola has led City to four titles in five seasons, and in sanctioning this move has shown he is brave enough to make decisions he believes will give the club the best chance of continued success.

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590 comments

  • Comment posted by mbmiller, at 13:48 30 Jan 2023

    Something has gone off. There is no way Lewis is anywhere near the standard of Cancelo, and this change of formation problem I don't buy. Cancelo can't play the role Pep wants, but a raw 18 yr old can? Don't buy it.

  • Comment posted by mr mark, at 13:48 30 Jan 2023

    Must have been something happened in the dressing room for pep to let one of the best full backs in the world go so abruptly

    • Reply posted by Pandemania, at 14:13 30 Jan 2023

      Pandemania replied:
      I wonder what

  • Comment posted by the sheriff , at 14:09 30 Jan 2023

    Love all the armchair managers on here questioning Pep’s transfer decisions. No doubt he checks HYS every day to make sure he’s doing his job properly 😂

    • Reply posted by know your rights, at 20:26 30 Jan 2023

      know your rights replied:
      Hahaha!
      Surely he would pay someone to do it for him?!

  • Comment posted by Cheese_Conquistador, at 15:09 30 Jan 2023

    The comments here are stupid. He's not happy that's clear. We aren't like Spurs or United. If a player isn't happy and they want to go we let them as we should. If he does go I truly wish him all the best. It may be your team but you don't own people. As for dressing room comments you do make me laugh. This is Pep you clowns not Mourinho or the last 27 United managers since Fergie left. lol.

    • Reply posted by Tubthumping, at 18:28 30 Jan 2023

      Tubthumping replied:
      I think the attack on him and his family about a year ago plays a massive role here.

  • Comment posted by Another Fickle Fan, at 13:46 30 Jan 2023

    Guardiola is ruthless. Sometimes players go through a patch of poor form and with time get back to their best. Pep obviously doesn't have the patience for that, and I for one will miss seeing him in the PL. The type of flair player I love to watch

    • Reply posted by bbcwatcher, at 14:03 30 Jan 2023

      bbcwatcher replied:
      TAA but better at defending and not as good at Crossing and Shooting

  • Comment posted by Gadster, at 13:55 30 Jan 2023

    He sold Sterling for big bucks and proven to be past sell-by date. He sold Jesus - great sale (given injury issues)…..in Pep I trust!

    • Reply posted by Pandemania, at 14:03 30 Jan 2023

      Pandemania replied:
      Like or hate them city make some great sales. Jesus, sterling, zinchenko to name a few

  • Comment posted by Soi6 , at 13:52 30 Jan 2023

    Big mistake letting him go. 🤔🧐😱

    • Reply posted by JuliusCaesarWasASocialist, at 17:32 30 Jan 2023

      JuliusCaesarWasASocialist replied:
      You are falling apart at the seams.

      And we are LAUGHING. laughing all the way to the title.

      COYG

  • Comment posted by TV, at 13:46 30 Jan 2023

    €70m option to buy, which will not likely happen. Must have been a big fallout. To think Mendy unavailable, Zinchenko sold, Wilson Esbrand loaned and now Cancelo loaned. Thank God for Ake's versatility. Clearly an issue with certain players and the manager.

    • Reply posted by bbcwatcher, at 14:03 30 Jan 2023

      bbcwatcher replied:
      Esbrand isn't a great player.

  • Comment posted by Bluetooth, at 17:02 30 Jan 2023

    Perhaps Cancelo and family want out of Manchester after being assaulted and robbed at their home.

    • Reply posted by Meatballz , at 03:26 31 Jan 2023

      Meatballz replied:
      Durty man's wld kift the eye out of ur head then come bak for the other eye lol

  • Comment posted by tomquark27, at 14:10 30 Jan 2023

    Always been a weird one - didn't fit the system and looked completely lost when he first signed and that continued for a while, then hit a purple patch where he looked genuinely amazing, and has gone back to how he was when he first signed...probably a good thing for both the player and the club this one, with Rico getting more game time!

    • Reply posted by American Blue, at 16:34 30 Jan 2023

      American Blue replied:
      I never trust him in defence, going forward he can be devastating but only when the mood takes him, more often he runs forward than turns back and passes backwards or tries to be too cute and loses the ball. Yes, he can provide crosses, but so can Walker, Mahrez, Gundogan, Foden, Silva, De Bruyne and Silva. Let him go if he isn't happy, I am not worried about this being bad business

  • Comment posted by Doofer Top Left Kippax Stand , at 13:54 30 Jan 2023

    It smacks of a falling out with Pep which was suspected prior to the World cup. Same with some other players out of favour. Top player on his day left or right I think we may regret it.

    • Reply posted by Darren, at 19:55 30 Jan 2023

      Darren replied:
      He's a bit greedy with the ball and so many wide shots. He's a right back who had done well at left back because he never displaced Walker and now he sees a youngster coming in.

      Dont get me wrong he has been an important player, but clearly city need to change to move forward

  • Comment posted by Bob, at 19:36 30 Jan 2023

    I support Liverpool so no love for Man City but this to me looks like an example of why they are such a well run club. No messing around. Players not happy. Manager isn’t going to change his mind. Squad depth not really weakened despite how good he is, so might as well sell him (I’m sure Bayern will trigger the clause cos he is quality). Job done, move on.

    • Reply posted by lookandsay, at 20:03 30 Jan 2023

      lookandsay replied:
      Bang onBob

  • Comment posted by tashyboy, at 14:31 30 Jan 2023

    No doubt about it, on his day he is world class. Butwhen he has a bad day he makes TAA look brilliant. He is one of the reasons Citys defence gets questioned. £60 odd million is a fantastic figure for City and will go towards Belligham.

    • Reply posted by Mr Mark, at 16:08 30 Jan 2023

      Mr Mark replied:
      Exactly this! Great going forward but also defends like a forward.

  • Comment posted by BG, at 14:15 30 Jan 2023

    He was an FPL point machine last season!

  • Comment posted by D1680391077899, at 13:51 30 Jan 2023

    he would be first choice left back so something has broken down. great player on his day, and when fully committed has been a driving force at times at city.

    However, kudos to Pep and the club - if players aint performing or things arent working then get shut.

    Weve seen complacency creep in this season and a lack of hunger that has made us so successful

    • Reply posted by red on my sleeve , at 15:17 30 Jan 2023

      red on my sleeve replied:
      he's delivery's to haland would've been priceless! strange one.

  • Comment posted by Blue Haven, at 15:58 30 Jan 2023

    I have watched Cancelo from day 1 & he has been a big player for us but this season he has definitely dipped both form & confidence this season so a move would be good for him and the club, best wishes Joao ! City move with the times whereas other clubs stand still & show too much loyalty to players who need to go !

    • Reply posted by know your rights, at 20:43 30 Jan 2023

      know your rights replied:
      ... SOME other clubs ...

  • Comment posted by Boom, at 14:30 30 Jan 2023

    Strange decision on thd face of it but Pep was right with Sterling. What's he done at Chelsea?

    • Reply posted by Chas7, at 15:10 30 Jan 2023

      Chas7 replied:
      Difference is Sterling is, has and always will be average.
      Cancelo is quality.

  • Comment posted by jamoid, at 20:34 30 Jan 2023

    After the win against Arsenal on Friday the interviewer asked him about Ake, Pep’s reply was everybody except one will be happy for him
    So that one is obviously Cancelo

    • Reply posted by sickbeggar, at 20:41 30 Jan 2023

      sickbeggar replied:
      You can't blame him really. Kept out the defence with a dodgy centre half and a bang average youth player. Must be a personal falling out.

  • Comment posted by Pandemania, at 14:02 30 Jan 2023

    A couple of bad performances saw him dropped but to sell him really

  • Comment posted by thelantern1212, at 18:57 30 Jan 2023

    The only regrettable sale City made was Edin Dzeko. Imagine how he would have developed under Pep. All others, as with this one if it happens, won't make any difference.

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