Barcelona to save Joao Cancelo from Man City and Bayern hell?

Stuart Telford

10 Mar 2023 12:33 GMT
3 min read

Barcelona are set to move for Joao Cancelo next summer according to reports in Spain, with the player pushed from pillar to post between Manchester City and Bayern Munich of late.

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That Cancelo's career has started to fall off the rails is something of a surprise to most onlookers.

The Portuguese full-back was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the last two season as Manchester City won back-to-back Premier League titles.

READ: Cancelo's Bayern Munich situation leaves mess for Man City

But he fell out with Pep Guardiola over his playing time ahead of the winter transfer window, before joining Bayern Munich on loan.

An assist on his debut augured well, but Cancelo has now been dropped, with Bayern playing a 3-5-2 and Kingsley Coman getting the nod on the right, Alphonso Davies on the left.

Joao Cancelo has landed in Munich 🛬pic.twitter.com/5Du4T37I9y
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) January 30, 2023

Cancelo not living up to expectations

"Joao will still a very important player for us," said sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic recently. "[But] he hasn't been playing and training the way he had imagined lately. We're communicating well with him. He's an outstanding player who'll be important."

But not important enough to make his move permanent for €70 million it would seem, and Barca are ready to pounce.

READ: Who are some affordable transfer targets for Barcelona this summer?

"[Man City's] priority is to sell him, but bearing in mind they paid €65m to sign him, they know they may have to loan him out against," report Sport. "It is in this context that Barcelona, who have specialised in signing players on the cheap in recent seasons, come into the picture."

A loan to Barca could suit all parties. Guardiola is content to blood Rico Lewis and Sergio Gomez behind Kyle Walker and Nathan Ake at right- and left-back respectively at City, but Barca need a specialist on the right especially.

Jules Kounde has got the nod there more often than not this season, but the former Sevilla man would rather play at centre-back.