Joao Pedro Cavaco Cancelo (foto: Getty Images)
João Cancelo, the Portuguese defender preparing for a match against Slovenia, has made significant allegations against his former manager Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.
Having moved on loan to Barcelona from Manchester City, Cancelo is expected to leave England for good this summer, signing a permanent deal with the Catalan giants. His departure follows a mysterious loss of favor at Manchester City, where he went from indispensable to an afterthought in Guardiola's lineup towards the end of 2022.
Cancelo revealed, “Manchester City did not show me the respect I deserved. Pep Guardiola spread lies about me, saying I wasn't a good teammate, among other things. You can ask Nathan Ake or Rico Lewis; they know very well what happened during that period. I was an important player, and the club did not stand by me in this situation.”
The 29-year-old has had a storied career, playing for clubs like Benfica, Valencia, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and now Barcelona, accumulating over 50 caps for Portugal. His recent comments shed light on the complexities of football relationships and the behind-the-scenes tensions that can lead to significant changes in a player's career.