Bayern Munich sporting director confirms Joao Cancelo permanent transfer talks with Man City

Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has confirmed that the club are looking to keep Joao Cancelo but he might be too expensive for the German giants to secure his services permanently.

Cancelo moved from Manchester City to Bayern in a deadline day move, on loan until the end of the current season – with an option to buy for €70m (£62.8m).

But Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has said that it might be too much financially for the Portuguese wing-back to join the club on a long-term deal.

Speaking to BamS, Salihamidzic said: “After the transfer was done, we actually thought again about how long we’ve been dealing with João. We came up with more than four years. Either our position was filled or we didn’t have the money for it.

“We’re playing with open cards. This sum is difficult for us to imagine in the next few years. If all sides really want a common solution, you can manage that in the end. He knows that he has been one of our dream players for years.”

Cancelo has also left the door open to a return to Manchester, dismissing suggestions of a rift with Guardiola at his unveiling press conference in Munich. “I’ve not had much game time in the past few weeks, which influenced my decision. There was speculation that my relationship with Pep was not the best but fact is I wanted to play more,” the ex- Valencia and Inter Milan ace declared.

“I really wanted to embark on this new adventure at such a club with such a big history. It’s a dream for me. I’m very happy to be here and to show my footballing qualities. I know that this club, this team, lives for titles and wins titles every year. I’m also driven by the hunger for success.”

Meanwhile, Guardiola isn’t ruling out a reunion either, with Cancelo still having a contract at the Etihad Stadium which runs until 2027. “Now he’s there. We’ll see what happens at the end of the season,” the City manager acknowledged, via the Manchester Evening News. “At the end of the season we talk many many things about many, many players.”