Cancelo Could Find a New Home in Saudi Arabia
Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo could be on the move once again, with Al Hilal emerging as a potential destination. The Saudi Pro League champions have reportedly bid formally for the Portuguese international, who has fallen out of favor at City under Pep Guardiola.
After a successful loan spell at Barcelona last season, Cancelo returned to Manchester City but has struggled to regain his place in the starting lineup. With the transfer window still open, a move to Saudi Arabia could provide Cancelo with a fresh start and a chance to reunite with former coach Jorge Jesus.
However, that seems to have changed. Fabrizio Romano reports that a “formal offer” has come from reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal and talks are underway with Manchester City and Cancelo representatives over a potential deal. It would mean a link-up with fellow Portuguese and coach at the time of his breakthrough at Benfica, Jorge Jesus. Cancelo is said to be the manager’s “first choice”.
After Euro 2024 and the summer break, Cancelo signed for City in pre-season and has been training with Guardiola’s squad ever since. But with the transfer window still open, the Portugal international has not featured in either of the club’s first two games.
The City boss has not ruled out the reintegration of Joao Cancelo, but a transfer appears to be the ideal outcome.
“He is training with us,” Pep Guardiola said at the same press conference, where he did not confirm any offer. “We’ll see [what happens]. Maybe he stays, maybe he goes on loan. I don’t know yet.
“It depends on his agents and the club. In the end, if he has to stay, we will treat him like any other player with respect and try to take the best of the huge qualities he has.”
After a difficult first season that was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Cancelo established himself as one of the Premier League’s best full-backs as City won back-to-back titles in 2020/21 and 2021/22. But he fell out of favor very suddenly amid a subsequent Treble-winning campaign, ending up on loan at Bayern Munich in January 2023.
Joao Cancelo is under contract at City until 2027, signing a new long-term deal less than a year before his rapid fall from grace, which was sparked by dissatisfaction with his playing time amid increasing competition from Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis.
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