REVEALED: Joao Cancelo’s relationship with Pep Guardiola has DETERIORATED, with star full back seen as DISRUPTIVE in the squad after heated chats with his manager led to shock loan exit
Manchester City allowed Joao Cancelo to leave for Bayern Munich after becoming disruptive to the squad.
The full back has been vocal in recent weeks at a lack of game time and his relationship with Pep Guardiola progressively deteriorated after the World Cup.
The severity of the situation meant City gave Cancelo the green light to depart once he brought a loan offer from Bayern to the table and he is putting the finishing touches to the move.
Pep Guardiola and Joao Cancelo have been involved in a training ground bust up that has led to the defender’s shock Bayern Munich move
The Portuguese defender has been vocal in recent weeks about wanting more game time
The Bundesliga champions have the option to purchase the Portugal international for £61million once the season finishes.
The versatile full-back has twice been in the PFA Team of the Year
Cancelo, 28, has held heated discussions with Guardiola and started only three of the 10 fixtures since returning from international duty. He was hooked at half time of a win over Chelsea and played in defeats by Southampton and Manchester United.
After being named as a substitute before the recent victory over Wolves, Cancelo was seen slumped on the bench while other members of City’s team warmed up ahead of kick off.
The agreement for him to seal a switch to the Allianz Arena appears to leave City short of defensive cover, but club sources are adamant that they have enough if a replacement does not arrive before the deadline.
Nathan Ake has performed admirably at left back in recent weeks, and is enjoying a stellar campaign, while youngster Sergio Gomez has made 12 appearances since joining from Anderlecht. Aymeric Laporte can fill in if required.
Nathan Ake has been one of City’s best performers in recent weeks deputising at left-back
Guardiola’s relationship with the defender has deteriorated since the World Cup
But the Premier League champions are perennially searching for a traditional left back. City opted against triggering Ben Chilwell’s £42m release clause when he left Leicester for Chelsea in 2020 but could return for him after refusing to meet Brighton’s valuation of Marc Cucurella last summer.
Benjamin Mendy’s contract is set to expire during his retrial on two counts of sexual violence, to be heard at Chester Crown Court on June 26. Mendy remains suspended by City.
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