“We Didn’t Agree on“ – Joao Cancelo Opens Up About Relationship With Pep Guardiola, Firmly Declares No Desire for Manchester City Return

Pep Guardiola‘s alleged fallout with Joao Cancelo is perhaps one dark episode in his otherwise stellar Manchester City stint. As it happened, Cancelo grew resentful of Guardiola for repeatedly benching him in crucial matches. Not holding his horses, the player openly questioned the coach’s decision and insisted he needed to play. This fumed the Spanish boss and the Portuguese full-back was subsequently loaned to Bayern Munich and later to FC Barcelona. However, Cancelo, now, doesn’t have any ‘hard feelings‘ for the City boss. Even so, he doesn’t want to reunite with Guardiola and any of the Etihad folks.

The Portugal international still thinks Guardiola is the best coach in the world. But this respect did not stop him from recalling the disagreements he had. As per Cancelo, a series of disagreements were at the heart of his fallout with the two-time treble-winning coach.

He and Guardiola were ‘not obliged to agree on everything,’ asserted Cancelo

Joao Cancelo spoke about his relationship with Pep Guardiola and his future with FC Barcelona in an interview with RTP. He confirmed he didn’t have any resentment toward Guardiola, but insisted both he and the coach have strong egos. “There are things we did not agree on, we are not obliged to agree on everything. There were things I didn’t agree on or he didn’t agree with something I said, it was simply that. But I have no hard feelings, I’m very grateful,” (translated by DeepL) Cancelo said, as compiled by Relevo.

Thereafter, the 29-year-old revealed that Pep Guardiola thought he would make a great player for the Spanish giant- Real Madrid. Proving the Spanish tactician wrong, the full-back is going with guns blazing for Madrid’s bitter rival- Barcelona. Even though he’s on loan, Cancelo is on cloud nine to wear the Blaugrana t-shirt. Later in the interview, the Portuguese hinted he hopes for a long stay on the Catalan side.

Joao Cancelo does not see a future in Manchester City, but he does in Barcelona!

Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo-loan deal with Barcelona ends on June 30, 2024. Besides, the club did not include a purchase option for the player when City loaned him out. Nonetheless, the star defender wants to extend his stay in Spain. “At the moment they haven’t told me anything, but I hope I can stay. I’m doing everything to make that happen,” he said. Even if it were not for the defending La Liga Champions, Cancelo addressed a return to his boyhood club.

READ MORE: Sidelined by Manchester City, Joao Cancelo Is a ‘Type of Player All Coaches Look For,’ Insists Roberto Martinez

“I really want to play for Benfica, really, but I want to play two or three more years here,” the 29-year-old continued. Notably, Cancelo kick-started his club career with the Portuguese side, Benfica. Only time will tell where the full-back will ply his trade in the coming years. But it is quite sure that you mostly won’t see him reunite with Pep Guardiola ever again.

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