Joao Cancelo thanks Nagelsmann for taking him to Bayern Munich | OneFootball

Manchester City loanee Joao Cancelo has paid tribute to the outgoing Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann.

Nagelsmann is on the verge of exiting the Allianz Arena after less than two years as the Bavarians prepare to relieve him of his duties and appoint Thomas Tuchel instead.

Despite helping the record-time Bundesliga champions land a tenth successive league title in his first year at the club, the 35-year-old tactician has fallen out of favour in Munich.

Last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen was a back-breaker, with Bayern soon to announce the sacking of the former RB Leipzig boss, who played a crucial role in bringing Cancelo from Man City in January.

Currently on international duty with Portugal, the versatile defender has thanked Nagelsmann for rescuing him from his nightmare at the Etihad Stadium.

“I want to thank Nagelsmann as he was the one who wanted me at Bayern,” he said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.

“This caught me by surprise, but all the luck in the world to him. I will try to fit in as much as possible with the concepts of the new coach.”

Bayern signed Cancelo on deadline day in January on loan until the rest of the season after the Portuguese ace tumbled down the pecking order at Man City.

Nagelsmann immediately integrated the 28-year-old into his starting line-up, even though he spent most of the first half of the season as a bit-part player in Pep Guardiola’s system.

With the German soon to be gone, Cancelo’s future at Bayern could be up in the air, especially after the Bavarians set a condition to exercising a substantial €70 million buyout option a few days ago.

Although it’s taken the former Inter Milan man virtually no time to settle into the new environment, Bayern would only take up an option to sign him permanently if Man City lower the price.

Considering Barcelona and some other European clubs are interested in Cancelo, that’s unlikely to happen.