Pep Guardiola sat down to face the media for the first time this season on Saturday in Tokyo, previewing Sunday’s friendly and offering an update on Joao Cancelo’s Manchester City future.
Cancelo fell out of favour at City last season and left on loan for Bayern Munich at the end of the January transfer window after not taking his new role too well. Both Cancelo and manager Pep Guardiola downplayed reports of a falling out between the pair, and refused to close the door on his City career.
City won the treble without Cancelo, using a system without full-backs towards the end of the season. Bayern declined the chance to sign Cancelo permanently, and he has returned for pre-season training at the Blues amid doubts over his future.
Speaking ahead of City’s first pre-season game against Yokohama F Marinoa, Guardiola was asked about Cancelo’s future, confirming that the Portuguese international remains part of his plans moving forwards.
Still, while Guardiola re-opened the door for Cancelo to be reintegrated into the City squad, he also suggested that he could still leave, admitting that nothing was decided.
“He is here. Joao has been so important for us in the past,” Guardiola said. “After the loan at Bayern he is back here and is part of the group. We will see what happens.”
These Guardiola’s comments were shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.
@Anonymo53741741: “Oh no!! He’s staying”
@MtMcfc: “Sounds like he might be staying”
@CityLife433: “He’s staying.”
@KieranBridge5: Pep always protects his players in interviews, he said it in the documentary. Guarantee he won’t be playing for City next season”
@mcfcrayan: “He’s definitely leaving”
@SayedZeesh: “My guess is: Cancelo stays and plays as a winger, on the left or right. May not be a regular starter though.”
@realitywinn: I’ve watched cancelo play in the box..decent dribbling for a LB..i think he’d make a decent winger under pep..am sure of it”
