In a shocking turn of events, Portugal international Joao Cancelo has accused his former club, Manchester City, and their manager Pep Guardiola of spreading "lies" about his exit from the club. This unexpected outburst has sent ripples through the football world.
Cancelo was a significant creative influence for Manchester City during his tenure with the team. He played an instrumental role in helping them secure two Premier League titles before he left on loan for Bayern Munich midway through the 2022/23 season.
The Portuguese player made a total of 154 appearances for Man City after signing from Juventus in 2019. However, his departure last season meant he missed out on their treble-winning end to the campaign.
Cancelo says he was happy to stay at Manchester City
Adding fuel to this controversy is Cancelo's rejection of claims suggesting he became unhappy at Etihad Stadium after being dropped from Manchester City starting XI. The player insists that these allegations are false and part of a narrative spun by those within Man City.
FC Barcelona right-back, Joao Cancelo, said:
"Lies were told! I've never been a bad teammate for them and you can ask either [Nathan] Ake or Rico [Lewis]. I don't have any superiority or inferiority complex towards them, but that's the manager's opinion. I stayed because it's not 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 daughter alone at home, terrified. People will only remember this because Mr Guardiola has much more power than me when he says something and I prefer to keep to myself."
Summer expected to be end game for Concelo from Man City
Currently enjoying another loan spell at Barcelona, it remains unclear whether this surprising tirade will aid or hinder Cancelo's attempt to seal a permanent transfer deal. Rumours have been circulating about Barca hoping to negotiate down Man City's asking price for Cancelo.
Barcelona’s only hope for silverware in the remainder of 2023/24 lies with the Champions League under Xavi’s leadership. They are set to face Paris Saint-Germain in what promises to be an exciting UCL quarter-final clash.
This extraordinary attack by Joao Cancelo against Pep Guardiola and Manchester city adds another layer of intrigue to an already complex situation surrounding his future career moves. As sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts watch closely, only time will tell how this saga unfolds and what impact it will have on Cancelo's career trajectory.
