Joao Cancelo has launched into an explosive rant which appears to rule out any prospect of a return to parent club Manchester City.
Cancelo, 29, was part of the City team which won the Premier League in 2021 and 2022, but was loaned out to Bayern Munich midway through the Treble-winning season. Another loan has followed this term, with the Portugal international spending the campaign at Barcelona
The right-back's contract at the Etihad Stadium runs until 2027, but his comments about his parent club and their manager Pep Guardiola looks to have closed the door on any reconciliation. He alleges "lies were told" when addressing reports Guardiola let him leave due to his response to being dropped, while calling City "ungrateful".
The former Valencia star has impressed at Camp Nou this term, scoring in Barcelona's Champions League round of 16 win over Napoli. Barca are understood to be keen to make the move permanent, though no agreement has been reached on a fee.
"Lies were told!" Cancelo told A Bola (via Goal). "I've never been a bad team-mate 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.
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"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 Mister Guardiola has much more power than me when he says something and I prefer to keep to myself. I prefer to know that I am telling the truth, I feel fulfilled with what I did. I am a transparent person, I never lie. Life goes on and I wish everything goes well, because while I was there I enjoyed my football and the team. They remain the favourite team to win the Champions League."
Can you see a way back for Cancelo at Manchester City? Have your say in the comments section
Pep Guardiola let Joao Cancelo leave on loan for the 2023-24 season (AFP via Getty Images)When Cancelo moved to Bayern on loan, Guardiola suggested a reassessment would be made in the summer of 2023. "First I wish him the very best in his four months [on loan]. Next season I don't know what happens," he said.
"An incredible figure in the last two leagues we won. After the World Cup, we make a pre-season and decided to play, in some patterns different. I like what I watch. I give more time to other players.
"His personality, mine, he loves to play. He trains the best, the situation he doesn't play much. In the last years one of the players with more minutes. He needs to play to be happy, we decide to let him go to Munich. He wants to play every single game and hopefully he can in Munich."
Cancelo featured for City in pre-season, but completed a loan to Barcelona without making a competitive appearance for his parent club this term. In October it was reported that Barca were pursuing a cut-price £24.3m move for the Portugal defender, but no deal has been confirmed at the time of writing.
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