Joao Cancelo had a notable career at Manchester City, but his time there became complicated due to his relationship with coach Pep Guardiola that resulted in brutal loans to Bayern & Barcelona before eventual sale.
Initially, Cancelo was a key player in City’s two Premier League title wins in 2020/21 and 2021/22 season. However, his situation changed after the 2022 World Cup when he found himself out of the starting lineup.
Frustrations grew for Cancelo as he became increasingly unhappy with his role on the team. Reports revealed that he expressed his discontent by wearing headphones and listening to music during Guardiola’s pre-match team talks. This marked a significant shift in their relationship,which contributed to Cancelo seeking opportunities elsewhere.
In January 2023, Cancelo joined Bayern Munich on loan, where he played until the end of the 2022/23 season. Afterward, he moved to Barcelona for another year-long loan under coach Xavi in the 2023/24 season. These moves highlighted the decline of his standing at Manchester City and his desire for a fresh start.
“We had differences, not a clash, we had different opinions,” Cancelo told Channel 11 (h/t MARCA) when asked about his relationship with Guardiola. “I have a very strong personality and so does he (Guardiola), but he’s the one in charge.
“Each of us took our own paths, but I thank God for having worked with him. I felt important in this group. He made me grow as a person and as a player.”
Now at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Cancelo is set to play against Cristiano Ronaldo’s team, Al-Nassr, on April 4. Currently, Al-Hilal sits second in the league standings, trailing Al-Ittihad by four points and maintaining a six-point lead over Al-Nassr in third place.
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