Manchester City has shocked the footballing world by sending full-back Joao Cancelo to Bayern Munich on a loan deal.
The Portuguese international was one of the keystone pieces in Pep Guardiola’s Premier League-winning sides but saw his playing time dwindle since the world cup break due to the emergence of Rico Lewis.
His playing time reportedly led to a bust-up with his Spanish manager which hastened his exit from the club despite City fighting for the league, FA Cup and Champions League titles in one of the closest battles in recent years.
Guardiola has preferred Nathan Ake on the left and Lewis on the right with Kyle Walker providing the necessary cover.
City decided to cash in on Joao Cancelo with Bayern Munich in desperate need of a right-back to turn around their stuttering campaign. The Bundesliga champions have the option of making the deal permanent in the summer for €70 million.
It is understood that the English champions were not willing to let him join a club in direct competition with them this season making Munich a logical option.
Cancelo arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Juventus in 2019 and was key to Premier League title wins in 2021 and 2022. Just last season, he made 52 appearances in all competitions and featured in 36 of City’s 38 league matches.
His performances also earned him a place in the Premier League team of the year in both 2021 and 2022.
