While it came as a shock that Joao Cancelo was preparing to leave Manchester to join Bayern Munich on loan, Pep Guardiola has never made any secret of the fact he won't keep an unhappy player. Instead, he will allow them to leave and find out whether or not the grass really is greener.
The Portuguese defender was not happy with his game time this season, despite having made 26 appearances in all competitions for the Blues. The 28-year-old, who has registered two goals and five assists this term, was left on the bench for the Premier League clashes with Everton, Tottenham and Wolves, while also failing to come on in the cup victories over Liverpool and Arsenal.
Bayern became aware of his frustrations, and made a move for him. The improved form of Nathan Ake - who has been operating at left-back in recent weeks - meant Guardiola was happy to approve Cancelo's loan move, especially with the emergence of teenager Rico Lewis at right-back, too.
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The move is certainly not without risk, with the fitness of John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias certainly a concern in the second half of the campaign. However, Guardiola, having led City to four titles in five seasons, is brave enough to make bold calls, even if they appear risky.
Cancelo, who won two league titles and the EFL Cup under Guardiola, has performed at a high level ever since arriving from Juventus in 2019. While he was named in the PFA Premier League team of the year for the last two seasons, he has only started three games since the World Cup this term.
His expected departure from the club is a blow to the Blues, but while they are losing a player many view as one of the best full-backs in the division, it provides other players with a chance to step up and deliver.
Kyle Walker has fallen behind Lewis in the pecking order in recent weeks, and with the defender having been sidelined with an injury prior to the World Cup, he has only made 12 starts this term. With Cancelo having typically operated at left-back, Walker has been City's first-choice right-back for several reasons, but it has been a difficult campaign so far.
The England international, 32, will be desperate to get more minutes under his belt as City chase Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League glory in the second half of the campaign. While Walker is unlikely to shift to the left flank, the departure of Cancelo should still increase his minutes. It remains to be seen if Guardiola would play Lewis at left-back, but given that he has started him in holding midfield, it wouldn't come as a surprise.
If Lewis does indeed start to play from the left, the natural replacement on the other side is Walker. To get the defender back up to speed would be massive for the Blues, and he would benefit from a run of starts.
Ake, meanwhile, is the player who has been keeping Cancelo out of the starting line-up in recent weeks, and the Dutchman - who scored the winning goal against Arsenal in the FA Cup - has been impressive in that position. The 27-year-old is experienced playing at left-back - even if it is not his natural role.
When he plays there, City are more defensively sound than they are when Cancelo starts. The Portuguese ace certainly offers more going forward, but with Lewis frequently getting into offensive positions, Ake's defensive capabilities mean the Blues have more cover when they do face attacks.
Guardiola is clearly happy with the former Chelsea man playing in that role, and it would not come as a surprise if he was the player who became the club's first-choice left-back moving forward. However, the Blues also have Sergio Gomez in their ranks, and the Spaniard would certainly benefit from Cancelo leaving.
The 22-year-old Spaniard has made 13 appearances this season, with just seven of those coming as a starter. He is certainly down the pecking order at the Etihad, but Cancelo departing should increase the amount of opportunities he gets - even if they come from the bench.
He is still young and still has a lot to offer Guardiola's side, but he has struggled to make an impact since joining the club in the summer. His lack of minutes certainly hasn't helped, but with Cancelo and Ake ahead of him, it was unclear when exactly he was going to get the chance to properly prove himself.
While it might not change his current situation too much, he is now competing with one less player - but it is important for him, and the club, that he offers something when he is called on.
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