Joao Cancelo has accused Manchester City and their manager Pep Guardiola of telling “lies” about his exit from the club.
The Portugal international was an important creative influence for the Cityzens and helped them win two Premier League titles before departing on loan for Bayern Munich midway through the 2022/23 season.
Currently enjoying a similar move to Barcelona, Cancelo rejected claims suggesting he became unhappy at the Etihad Stadium after being dropped from Guardiola’s starting XI.
He sensationally told A Bola: “Lies were told! I’ve never been a bad teammate 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.
“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 Mr Guardiola has much more power than me when he says something and I prefer to keep to myself.”
Cancelo made 154 appearances in total for City after signing from Juventus in 2019 but his departure last season meant he missed out on their treble-winning end to the campaign.
He added: “Certain things dictated that I was loaned last year to Bayern Munich. I have no regrets, even if City won the Champions League. I feel like I made the right choice, that I went to a club that really wanted me, even before renewing my contract. It was a club that gave me a lot in the six months I was there.”
There have been rumours of Barca being hopeful of reducing Man City’s asking price for Cancelo but whether this surprising tirade aids his attempt to seal a permanent transfer remains to be seen.
Barca’s sole hope of silverware in the remainder of 2023/24 is the Champions League, with Xavi’s side set to clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.
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