Joao Cancelo has given a new interview and offered his thoughts about the reports suggesting he reacted negatively to other players getting more minutes than him at Manchester City.
Cancelo is currently on loan at Barcelona, who are very keen to sign the defender permanently this summer.
Although they will potentially face competition from Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta an admirer of the player.
Cancelo seemingly does not have a future as a City player. If he did, then Pep Guardiola might have reintegrated him last summer.
But that did not happen, and a new loan move was facilitated.
The chances of a reintegration appear to be extremely low, especially following some new comments the player has now made…
Joao Cancelo brands suggestions about his negative reaction to lack of game time at Manchester City as ‘lies’
Cancelo is currently on international duty with Portugal.
He has conducted a new interview with A Bola – and was asked about the reports suggesting that he had given a negative reaction to lacking minutes for Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola was playing the likes of Rico Lewis and Nathan Ake ahead of him, and it was reported that the pair fell out over Cancelo’s lack of game time.
In his eyes, there was no negative reaction and he even suggested people ask Lewis and Ake about his behaviour.
He said: “Lies were told! I’ve never been a bad teammate for them and you can ask either (Nathan) Ake or Rico (Lewis) and I don’t have any superiority or inferiority complex towards them, but that’s the manager’s opinion.
“I stayed because it’s not true and 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 the fans and I always gave everything. I remember a time when I was robbed and attacked and the next day I was playing at the Emirates against Arsenal.
“These are things you don’t forget, I left my wife and daughter alone at home, terrified. People will only remember this because Mister Guardiola has much more power than me when he says something and I prefer to keep to myself. I prefer to know that I am telling the truth, I feel fulfilled with what I did. I am a transparent person, I never lie. Life goes on and I wish everything goes well, because while I was there I enjoyed my football and the team. They remain the favourite team to win the Champions League.”
City need to offload Cancelo permanently
Cancelo’s latest interview clearly indicates that all was not well with him at City.
He does not agree with the suggestions that he reacted poorly to losing his place in the side, but seemingly Pep does not share this view. Otherwise, he would probably now be in the City squad.
Whatever went down, it is now best for all parties for Cancelo – who signed for £60 million – to leave City permanently, and hopefully the club can strike a permanent deal this summer with Barcelona, as they are the club he wants to join. Barca were recently reported that has been ‘increasingly confident’ of signing him.
It cannot be another straight loan move as this just doesn’t help – there is a likelihood that his market value will only decrease.
He appears to have no future at the Etihad and so City have got to cut their losses now. It may mean they are forced to accept a lower sum than they would really like, but sometimes it’s important to move players on for the good of everyone.