Joao Cancelo has leveled accusations against Manchester City and their manager, Pep Guardiola, alleging that they propagated falsehoods concerning his departure from the club.
A pivotal creative force for the Cityzens, the Portugal international contributed significantly to their success, clinching two Premier League titles before embarking on a loan spell to Bayern Munich midway through the 2022/23 season.
Currently on loan at Barcelona, Cancelo refuted assertions implying dissatisfaction at the Etihad Stadium after being relegated from Guardiola’s starting lineup. In a startling revelation to A Bola, he asserted, “Lies were told! I’ve never been a disruptive teammate, as confirmed by [Nathan] Ake or Rico [Lewis]. I harbor no feelings of superiority or inferiority toward them; it’s merely the manager’s perspective.”
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Staying firm against such claims, Cancelo elaborated, “I remained because those allegations are unfounded. I believe Manchester City displayed ingratitude when making such statements, considering my pivotal role during my tenure there.”
Recounting a poignant incident, Cancelo reflected, “I recall a time when I faced personal adversity, yet showed resilience by promptly returning to the field against Arsenal at the Emirates.”
Despite making 154 appearances for City since his arrival from Juventus in 2019, his departure last season saw him miss out on their triumphant campaign. He remarked, “Circumstances led to my loan spell at Bayern Munich last year. I harbor no regrets, even in light of City’s Champions League triumph. I firmly believe I made the right decision, joining a club that genuinely desired my presence even before contract negotiations.”
Amid rumors suggesting Barcelona’s aspirations to negotiate a lower fee for Cancelo’s permanent transfer, the impact of his candid disclosure on such proceedings remains uncertain.
With Barcelona pinning their hopes on Champions League success for the remainder of the 2023/24 season, they anticipate a challenging quarter-final encounter against Paris Saint-Germain.