January signing Maximo Perrone has been added to Manchester City's Champions League squad for the upcoming knockout stages, following the departure of Joao Cancelo on loan.
Cancelo left for Bayern Munich on deadline day, penning a half-season loan that can be made permanent in the summer. The Portuguese international had featured in all six group-stage games but has since seen his minutes reduced, following the return of domestic football after the World Cup.
Former Velez Sarsfield midfielder Perrone arrived at City for around £8.2million earlier in the window, signing a five-and-a-half-year contract. The 20-year-old is yet to meet his new teammates after competing in the South American Under-20 Championship, and was signed initially as a player for the future, with no intention of first-team action this season.
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However, Cancelo's surprise exit has left a space open in the City squad for the second part of the Champions League, allowing Pep Guardiola to name Perrone in the 23-man list - although whether the youngster features remains to be seen.
The thought process among those in charge at the Etihad is to assess the Argentinian in training over the coming months before deciding whether to send him out on loan next season.
Interestingly, despite the midfielder's shirt number not yet being confirmed by the club, he is registered as No.32 on UEFA's official squad list which was updated today.
Perrone has also been included in the updated Premier League squad for the latter half of the campaign, a further suggestion that the defensive midfielder may enjoy a first-team debut at some point between now and June.
City face RB Leipzig in the Champions League last-16, the first leg taking place later this month at the Red Bull Arena before the return at the Etihad on March 14.
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