Cancelo unhappy with ‘ungrateful’ Man City over departure

Updated 25/03/2024 at 16:07 GMT

Joao Cancelo suddenly found himself out of favour at Manchester City two seasons ago and he left for Bayern Munich for the second half of the season on loan. He followed that up with a season-long loan at Barcelona, and speaking to the Portuguese press, he has hit out at what he sees as “lies” that were told about him in the aftermath of his first loan spell away.

Joao Cancelo of FC Barcelona celebrates 2-0 during the UEFA Champions League match between FC Barcelona v Napoli at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on March 12, 2024 in Barcelona Spain

Image credit: Getty Images

Joao Cancelo has claimed that “lies were told” about him after he joined Bayern Munich on loan from Manchester City last year.

Cancelo had been a first-team regular under Pep Guardiola but was loaned out to the German side in January 2023, before moving to Barcelona for another loan spell for the current season.

Reports at the time had suggested that the Portuguese defender was dissatisfied with the amount of game time Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis were getting under Guardiola.

Speaking to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Cancelo rejected those stories.

He said: “Lies were told! I’ve never been a bad team-mate for them and you can ask either Ake or Rico. I don’t have any superiority or inferiority complex towards them, but that’s the manager’s opinion…”

Asked if he was disappointed by the reports, he added: “I was because it wasn’t true. I think Man City were a bit ungrateful to me when they said that, because I was a very important player in the years I was there. I never failed in my commitment to the club, to the fans and I always gave everything.

“I remember a time when I was robbed and attacked and the next day I was playing at the Emirates against Arsenal. These are things you don’t forget, I left my wife and my daughter alone at home, terrified.

“People will only remember this because Mister Guardiola has much more strength than me when he says something and I prefer to keep to myself. I prefer to know that I am telling the truth, I feel fulfilled with what I did. I am a transparent person, I never lie.”

Joao Cancelo of FC Barcelona looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Image credit: Getty Images

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has been consistent in saying that he hopes to extend Cancelo’s stay either with a permanent transfer or another loan deal, and he said that he had no regrets about leaving City, regardless of their treble success last season.

“I live life in the moment,” he said. “Certain things dictated that I was loaned to Bayern Munich last year. I have no regrets, even if City won the Champions League. I feel like I made the right choice, that I went to a club that really wanted me, even before renewing my contract.

“It was a club that gave me a lot in the six months I was there. I dealt with great players and the club is spectacular.

“Then I came here [to Barcelona], lowered my salary and I’m not bothered by it in the slightest. This was the third time I was about to come to Barcelona and I’m finally here.

“Life goes on and I wish everything goes well, because while I was there I enjoyed my football and the team.

“They remain the favourite team to win the Champions League.”

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