Joao Cancelo contributed an assist in his Bayern Munich debut after joining from Manchester City
No one expected Joao Cancelo to leave Manchester City in the January transfer window.
While the Portugal international struggled for game time after the World Cup winter break, an exit wasn’t really talked about.
But in the final days of the window, the news broke that Cancelo was on his way to Bayern Munich.
It caught everyone off guard and despite the fact the move is only a loan with an option to buy for £61 million at the end of the season, Cancelo’s City career appears all but over.
Why’s that? Well, if rumours are to be believed, the versatile full-back and Pep Guardiola didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye in their final days working together.
Read more – Joao Cancelo: Inside story explains why Pep Guardiola wanted him to leave Man City
If we witness Cancelo in a City shirt next season, it’ll be a huge shock.
Of course, no player is bigger than the club, but it’s hard not to think that it’s the current Premier League champions who are the losers in this scenario.
MAINZ, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 01: Joao Cancelo of Bayern Munich controls the ball during the DFB Cup round of 16 match between 1. FSV Mainz 05 and FC Bayern München at MEWA Arena on February 01, 2023 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)
Cancelo is a world-class footballer, something he reminded the world on his Bayern debut in the DFB-Pokal away at Mainz.
In fact, it took the former Juventus man just 18 minutes to show Guardiola what he’ll be missing in the tail end of 2022/23.
Cancelo was the architect of Bayern’s opening goal at the MEWA Arena. His pinpoint cross from the right was expertly guided home by the in-form Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
As well as contributing a crucial assist, Cancelo dropped something very close to a debut masterclass.
Him and Alphonso Davies as a full-back pairing should not be allowed…
Video: Cancelo’s highlights from Mainz 0-4 Bayern Munich
In case you had forgotten, Cancelo is a baller – and his signing increases Bayern’s chances of winning the Champions League.
But at least Guardiola can rest easy with the knowledge that he has Rico Lewis, Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji as full-back options, which is pretty darn tasty.
City’s first game after Cancelo’s unexpected exit pits them against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
If table-toppers Arsenal defeat Everton in Saturday’s early kick-off, the pressure will be on Guardiola’s men to make sure the points gap isn’t extended to eight.
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