Pep Guardiola admits he ‘does not know what happens’ with Joao Cancelo next season after loan move

Pep Guardiola admitted that he does not know what will happen with Joao Cancelo at the end of the season after the defender left for Bayern Munich on loan for the rest of the season. 

The Portuguese full-back – who fell out with the Spanish boss over his attitude to being dropped – does have a buy clause in his contract worth £61million, although there is no obligation for his loan to become permanent. 

The player was allowed to leave the club after a training ground bust-up broke out, with Cancelo fuming at being snubbed to start the FA Cup fourth-round clash against Arsenal. 

Despite a hugely fruitful period at the club, reports emerged after Cancelo’s departure that there have been numerous occasions of complaint at his game time. 

But when asked in Friday’s press conference ahead of the Tottenham clash on Sunday, Guardiola insisted that the player had ‘more minutes’ than the majority of his squad.  

Pep Guardiola admitted he does not know what will happen with Joao Cancelo at the end of the season after their training ground fallout 

Joao Cancelo was unveiled as a Bayern Munich player on Tuesday after joining the club on loan

‘First I wish him the very best in his four months,’ Guardiola began. ‘Next season I don’t know what happens. He was an incredible figure in the last two leagues we won. 

‘After the World Cup, we made a pre-season and decided to play in some different patterns. I like what I [saw]. I gave more time to other players. His personality, he loves to play. He trains the best, the situation he doesn’t play much. 

‘In the last years one of the players with more minutes. He needs to play to be happy, we decided to let him go to Munich.’

Having been left out of City’s 1-0 FA Cup win over Arsenal, the coaching group noticed he was not paying attention during tactical meetings at the club’s training ground and staff agreed he needed to be moved on, as per the Athletic.

Cancelo – who has blocked a number of Man City fan accounts on social media – even wanted to leave months after joining City in 2019 because he wasn’t playing enough. 

Cancelo has enjoyed a hugely successful stay at the Etihad with two Premier League titles

Cancelo has denied that his relationship with Pep Guardiola led to his Man City exit after the pair had a training ground bust-up last week

He is also said to have kicked up a fuss during the 2020-21 season when he was left out of the starting XI for the Champions League semi-final second leg and the final against Chelsea – making his feelings crystal clear.

However, Guardiola refused to say a bad word about the player, and instead remained insistent that Cancelo was ‘an exceptional player’.

‘If Bayern Munich want Joao it’s because he’s an exceptional player,’ the Spanish manager continued. ‘I won’t say a bad word, his work ethic, passion, skills. 

‘Everyone knows it. It happens one or two days before the window. Always I’m pleased with the squad. Being not sure, it’s better to have the money in the bank and don’t be criticised to spend more.’

The Portuguese international defender provided an assist on his first game for Bayern Munich

And the player himself echoed Guardiola’s sentiment, maintaining that there was nothing wrong with the relationship with his manager. 

The Portugal star did however argue that he did not feel he was getting enough minutes in the starting XI.  

‘I’ve not had much game time in the past few weeks, which influenced my decision. It has nothing to do with my relationship with Pep,’ Cancelo said as he was unveiled as a Bayern player. 

Cancelo has already endeared himself to his Bayern Munich team-mates, with Joshua Kimmich praising his ‘amazing quality’ after providing an assist in just his first appearance for the Bundesliga titans.