Joao Cancelo is expected to leave Manchester City before tomorrow's deadline day in one of the most shocking deals to be concluded this month. The full-back has been a regular of Pep Guardiola's side in recent years but is now set to depart the English champions to join Bayern Munich.
Cancelo is expected to join the German giants on an initial loan with a €70million (£61.5million) option to make the move permanent in the summer. The news of his exit has come as a shock across the footballing world after his influence on Guardiola's system since arriving from Juventus in 2019.
The defender has made over 150 appearances for the club, scoring nine and assisting an additional 22. During his time in Manchester, Cancelo has won two Premier League titles and the EFL Cup, whilst also being named in the PFA Team of the Year twice.
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However, the 28-year-old has only started three games since the World Cup and has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium due to the emergence of teenager Rico Lewis and Nathan Ake's deployment at left-back.
Despite signing a new five-year deal with City just 11 months ago, Cancelo will now ply his trade in the Bundesliga. However, the reason behind his exit actually involves Arsenal.
According to the Daily Mail, the Portuguese was involved in a training ground bust-up with Guardiola prior to last week's FA Cup clash against the Gunners. It's said that he reacted angrily to being left out of the starting XI, and threatened to leave the club.
With Guardiola placing faith in Lewis, Ake and Kyle Walker, City have agreed to let Cancelo leave once the offer from Bayern was presented. It's reported the relationship between Cancelo and Guardiola is "beyond repair".
City will reportedly aim to recruit a replacement to Cancelo before tomorrow's deadline (11pm). Summer signing Sergio Gomez could now be presented with further opportunities in City's defence but the Daily Mail have claimed they could revisit Ben Chilwell's services after opting against triggering his £42million release clause at Leicester in 2020.
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