Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo will reportedly ‘not play for the club ever again’ as he has been accused of ‘betraying’ Pep Guardiola.
The Portuguese star has been superb for Man City over the past couple of years as he has established himself as one of the best full-backs in England.
But he fell down the pecking order after the World Cup and he was an unused substitute for a number of league matches before his loan move to Bayern.
The German side are believed to have the option to sign Cancelo permanently in the summer for a fee around £61m.
Cancelo’s departure came about after it was reported that he was involved in a ‘furious bust-up’ with Guardiola. This was said to happen after he did not start against Arsenal in the FA Cup.
Football Insider claim Cancelo is ‘not expected to play for City again after completing a shock loan-to-buy move to Bayern Munich’.
It is reported that ‘issues have been bubbling behind the scenes’ as the defender’s relationship with Guardiola and his coaching staff has ‘deteriorated’.
The report adds that none of the parties involved expect him to return to the Emirates this summer or play for them again.
Another report from AS (Sport Witness) claims that ‘something important happened’ at City that led to the loan deal being completed.
According to reports, Cancelo’s exit was ‘striking’ and ‘almost personal’ after Guardiola helped to turn him into one of the ‘best full-back in the world’.
Cancelo is accused of being ‘very unappreciative’ & he ‘betrayed his mentor’ in the weeks leading up to his exit from City. However, Guardiola refused to say a “bad word” about Cancelo in his press conference this week.
“He has been an incredible figure in the last two Premier Leagues we won but after the World Cup we made a ‘pre-season’ and started to play in a different way in some patterns,” Guardiola told reporters.
“I liked what I watched and I decided to give more time to players who I saw on the pitch who liked it.
“He is one of the players who trains the best but in this situation he didn’t play much in the last two or three games.
“We cannot say he didn’t play much (at all) because in the last years he was one of the players with the most minutes by far, (but) he is a guy who needs to play to be happy and we decided together, all three parties, to let him go to Munich.
“Bayern Munich wanted him because he’s beyond an exceptional player. I won’t say one bad word about him.
“I think his work ethic, love for football, passion, his quality and skills… what can I say? Everyone knows it.”
