Pep Guardiola has seemingly opened the door for Joao Cancelo to return to Manchester City despite reportedly falling out with the full-back and sending him out on loan.
The Portuguese star was previously among the club’s best performers and there was plenty of surprise when he headed out on loan to Bayern Munich. He’s since spent time at the Nou Camp but Barcelona are yet to agree on a new loan extension for Cancelo.
It means, as things stand, the defender is poised to head back to the Etihad and reunite with Guardiola. The Catalan confessed City will likely hold talks with the La Liga outfit but, if no deal can be agreed, he’ll be part of City’s pre-season plans.
He said: “It has to be the best for everyone. The two clubs will sit down. He is our player and, if an agreement is not reached, he will have to return in the pre-season. If he wants to stay here [at Barcelona], and the clubs agree, it will be done again.”
It has been 17 months since Cancelo last played in the City blue – that was a 2-1 defeat in a Manchester derby. Their defence has since evolved with Josko Gvardiol proving to be a classy operator in the left-back position that the Portuguese star previously occupied.
The Croatian had been a stellar centre-half performer before he moved to Manchester, but was used by Guardiola on the flanks in the final months of the season as City landed a record breaking fourth successive league title.
It was reported that the successive loan spells were down to an internal bust up, which Cancelo took issue with. He told A B ola : “Lies were told! I’ve never been a bad teammate 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.”
He also added: “I was [saddened] because it wasn’t true. 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 my daughter alone at home, terrified. People will only remember this because Mister Guardiola has much more strength 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.”
