Manchester City Refuses to Let Joao Cancelo Depart Despite Lack of Desire to Return Amidst Strong Interest From Saudi Arabia and England- Reports

The future of Joao Cancelo is again making headlines. While the Portuguese superstar is relishing his time at Barcelona after departing on loan from Manchester City, the transfer market buzzes with speculation linking the defender to both Saudi Arabia and a return to England. Despite Cancelo’s clear lack of desire to rejoin Pep Guardiola‘s team, rumors suggest that Manchester City is adamant about not letting him leave.

As compiled by Sport Witness, Barcelona is eager to extend the stay of the 29-year-old with another loan or buy him permanently for a reduced fee of €20 million or $21 million. However, Xavi and Co. would need to include a mandatory purchase option to sway the English giants, who reportedly demand around €40 million or $43 million. Likewise, even Cancelo prioritizes remaining at Camp Nou. Moreover, the Blaugrana are in for a huge blow as City is evaluating offers from undisclosed clubs in England and Saudi Arabia. It doesn’t end there!

The 2023 UEFA Champions League winners also reportedly rejected the idea of another loan deal for the right-back. Furthermore, all the interested parties are willing to meet City’s valuation for Cancelo. While the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is negotiating his stay in Spain, City accepting lucrative offers from other clubs to offload him permanently during the summer transfer window might pose a problem for Cancelo.

Notably, the player’s contract with the Sky Blues runs until 2027. However, it’s believed his future at the club is uncertain due to a strained relationship with Pep Guardiola. Speaking of which, what exactly happened? 

Joao Cancelo opens up about his fallout with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City

At the start of 2023, starting right-back Kyle Walker suffered an injury, coinciding with Joao Cancelo’s return from the World Cup in poor form. This prompted Guardiola to call upon academy talent Rico Lewis. Surprisingly, this risk paid off, with the 17-year-old impressing in matches against Chelsea and Liverpool. However, Cancelo was dissatisfied with Guardiola’s decision and insisted on being chosen over Lewis. 

This not only infuriated Pep but also sparked tension among some teammates, aggravating the disagreement between the coach and the player. Additionally, in another interview, Cancelo stated that he had no ill will against Guardiola but admitted that both he and the Head Coach have big egos.

While his relationship with City looks unrepairable, let’s see what his parent club decides regarding his future.

READ MORE: “Even God Couldn’t Stand Him” – Real Reason Behind Joao Cancelo’s Manchester City Exit & Pep Guardiola Fallout Revealed