‘We didn’t agree he told me to play as a left back but I didn’t….’… Joao Cancelo shares what went wrong between him and Pep Guardiola at Man City

In addressing the tensions between himself and Pep Guardiola during their time at Manchester City, Joao Cancelo has stepped forward to share his perspective.

The decision to loan Cancelo to Bayern Munich in January of the previous year raised eyebrows globally, especially after his benching by City following the World Cup in Qatar.

Reports dating back to August indicated a strained working relationship between Pep Guardiola and the Portuguese full-back, dating back to the 2021–2022 campaign.

Cancelo, now on loan at Barcelona, has disclosed several points of disagreement with Guardiola. He expresses a desire to secure a permanent contract with Barcelona during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Guardiola had previously admitted that City would have sold Cancelo to Manchester United, even at the risk of strengthening their rivals.

In shedding light on his interactions with Guardiola, Cancelo offered a nuanced account, acknowledging areas of disagreement while expressing gratitude and a lack of resentment. He emphasized the importance of moving forward positively.

In handling the situation with Guardiola, Cancelo chose not to divulge all details publicly. Instead, he acknowledged the privilege of working with Guardiola, a figure widely regarded as one of the best managers in history.

Despite the reported rift, Cancelo’s impact on football, particularly with his innovative inverted full-back position, remains noteworthy. His focus remains on his football career rather than engaging in public conflict.

In essence, while Cancelo and Guardiola’s relationship may have faltered, Cancelo’s decision to prioritize his career over public discord demonstrates maturity and professionalism.