Can Joao Cancelo play against Manchester City for Bayern Munich in the Champions League? | OneFootball

Joao Cancelo has completed a six-month loan deal to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, following an eventful past few weeks at Manchester City.

The 28 year-old’s game time had significantly reduced since returning to the club from the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with Pep Guardiola often opting to utilise Nathan Ake in his favoured left-back role.

As such, Joao Cancelo felt it necessary to seek a move away from the football club this month, bringing a proposal from Bayern Munich to the table, and one that Manchester City were more than willing to agree to given recent incidents involving the Portuguese defender.

Bayern Munich will retain the services of Joao Cancelo until at least the summer, and hold the option to sign the player on a permanent deal at the end of the initial loan, with Manchester City placing a €70 million purchase option in the agreement.

Before then however, Manchester City could still face their now-former defender in European competition, with themselves and Bayern Munich among the favourites to secure the UEFA Champions League title this season.

But the question on many people’s lips is: Will Joao Cancelo be eligible to face his parent club?

As confirmed by James Ducker for the Telegraph, Joao Cancelo will be free to face Manchester City in the Champions League this season, should the two sides meet each other – as per UEFA rules on the matter.

City will be looking to win Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in their history, and the first under Pep Guardiola – who is believed by some supporters to be needing the Champions League crown to complete his tenure with the Etihad club.

The closest City have come under the Catalan boss was the final of the competition during a covid-hit 2020/21 campaign that saw them meet Premier League rivals Chelsea in a showpiece final staged in Porto, Portugal.

A single goal from Kai Havertz was enough to deny Pep Guardiola and Manchester City the ultimate prize that night, and prevent Sergio Aguero from bringing an end to his Sky Blue career on the ultimate football high.