Joao Cancelo issues fresh Pep Guardiola comments after Manchester City fallout | OneFootball

Former Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo has looked back on his relationship with Pep Guardiola over a three-and-a-half year spell at the Etihad Stadium.

The 30-year-old made an abrupt mid-season switch to Bayern Munich after a reported training ground fallout with Pep Guardiola that left the Portugal international out of favour with the Manchester City manager.

Cancelo struggled for form and consistency in his opening season in England but upped his game to become a first-team regular for City in 2021, helping the Blues en route to a premier UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea in Porto.

Despite his defensive frailties that left the full-back exposed on various occasions, Joao Cancelo’s attacking exploits and ability to play in an advanced number eight position enhanced his importance for Manchester City.

After enjoying a mixed first half of the 2022/23 season – the second half of which saw Manchester City complete a historic treble – Cancelo fell out with Pep Guardiola in the days leading to the end of the January transfer window.

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich moved swiftly to agree a deal to sign Joao Cancelo on loan until the end of that season and the former Juventus man joined Barcelona on a season-long loan deal in the summer of 2023.

However, despite a disappointing end to their time working together at the Etihad Stadium, Joao Cancelo has recently spoken well on Manchester City’s legendary manager and his footballing acumen.

“Pep (Guardiola) made me see football otherwise, for me, he is a genius,” said the Al-Hilal man, who saw minutes difficult to come by in the final months of his Manchester City career owing to the emergence of academy graduate Rico Lewis.

Joao Cancelo was never going to have a future at City beyond the end of his loan spell at Bayern Munich and with neither the German giants nor Barcelona agreeing to a permanent deal, the Portuguese embarked upon a new chapter by signing for Al-Hilal last summer.

The full-back has two years remaining on his current deal with the Saudi Pro League club and has contributed two goals and 11 assists in first 30 appearances across all competitions so far this term.