João Cancelo made a surprising move to Bayern Munich.Image: FC Bayern Munich / FC Bayern Munich
Bundesliga
It was one of the surprise moves this winter transfer window: João Cancelo unexpectedly joins FC Bayern Munich until the end of the season. The player who has long been considered indispensable for both Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.
Logically, then, that shortly after the transfer announcement, all sorts of rumors about a rift between the Portuguese and Guardiola became public. However, Cancelo himself does not want to know anything about it.
“My decision only has to do with the fact that I haven’t played much in the last few weeks,” explained the 28-year-old at his presentation in Munich on Tuesday. “There has been speculation that my relationship with my coach, Pep Guardiola, wasn’t the best. But actually it was just that I wanted to play more again. Now I’ve got that opportunity.”
How “The Athletic“reported, that should not have been the only reason.
Cancelo was “like a volcano”.
Starting after the World Cup in Qatar, the full-back is said to have attracted negative attention in Manchester through several actions. According to reports, there was not a single major event. His general behavior pattern is said to have become much more of a problem.
The watson app for your smartphone
Citing an anonymous source, The Athetic reports that João Cancelo was “like a volcano” at times. If he didn’t get enough time, he was disproportionately defiant. So he wanted to move to Manchester after just a few months, but ultimately decided to stay.
After the full-back in the FA Cup game against Arsenal London caught the eye again with a negative reaction to his repeated non-call-up for the starting XI was, for city coach Pep Guardiola the arc was apparently so overstretched that he and Cancelo agreed to force a change. It was the third game in a row that he was on the bench.
Problems already at the World Cup in Qatar
Similar behavior is said to have happened in the Portuguese national team at the World Cup in Qatar – and after the restart of the Premier League also at Manchester City.
João Cancelo has apparently fallen out with Pep Guardiola. Image: Press Association / Martin Rickett
Cancelo is said to have seemed unfocused in tactical discussions at last year’s English champions. In addition, he probably did not implement instructions in training and games and reacted demonstratively dissatisfied after substitutions.
Manchester City with few full-back options
However, the departure of Cancelo also means for the Skyblues that there are only a few options left on the defensive flank. However, with regular central defender Nathan Aké and Rico Lewis, who came from the City youth team, Manchester hopes to be able to close this gap at left back.
It is highly unlikely that João Cancelo will rejoin the Premier League club after the end of the loan in the summer given the nature of the exit.
The Portuguese kept a low profile at his press conference on Tuesday. “We have to see what the five months bring, I want to be here with a clear head, it’s about a loan first. We’ll talk about it again at the end of the season. I’m still under contract with Manchester City.”
Bayern Munich has the option to sign the full-back for the agreed transfer fee of 70 million euros. However, the Bayern officials should only make use of this if Cancelo on Säbener Straße does not attract attention with similar behavior.
It’s arguably one of the biggest sensational changes of this year’s winter transfer window. According to consistent media reports, the Spaniard Isco is about to sign at 1. FC Union Berlin.
