Joao Cancelo in talks to join Bayern Munich on loan
Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo is reportedly joining Bayern Munich on loan for the rest of the season. The deal includes an option to buy the 28-year-old for €70 million in the summer. Cancelo is currently in Munich having a medical.
Cancelo has been integral to City’s title-winning sides in the two previous seasons, appearing in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year both times. He made 36 Premier League appearances last year and was lauded for his unique interpretation of the full-back role.
However, his place in the team has come under threat this season. He has only started five of City’s last 14 fixtures in all competitions and has been out of the side for the past three games in a row.
A combination of Rico Lewis’ emergence as a viable starter and Cancelo’s drop in form has led to him sitting on the bench more than he’d like.
Sources have told ESPN that his relationship with City manager Pep Guardiola had broken down due to his benching, and he had been actively seeking a move.
Still, it is a surprise to see such a key member of title-winning squads move on seven months after their most recent success, especially due to his unique role.
What Cancelo brings to a team
Cancelo popularised the ‘inverted full-back’ role. In defensive actions, Cancelo would play on the left of a back four as part of City’s 4-3-3. However, in possession Cancelo would invert and join the midfield, whilst the right-back on the other side would tuck in to form a back three. Cancelo’s excellence on the ball and his creativity would allow him to play line-splitting passes and advance the play.
Furthermore, his technical ability would allow the two eights in City’s midfield to push up into the half-space, forming a 2-3-5 formation. Cancelo and Rodri, typically, would sit as the two holding midfielders when in the opposition’s half. He would be vital in breaking up counterattacks via counter-pressing. If the opponent bypassed the City press, he would return to the left-hand side of the defense.
Cancelo was able to register seven assists in the Premier League last year and was generally considered one of the best full-backs in the league.
However, the introduction of Erling Haaland has meant City have taken a slight step back this season as they still adapt. Haaland is still playing excellently, but transitioning from playing with a false nine to an out-and-out goal machine is a big adjustment stylistically. Evidently, Cancelo has not adjusted fast enough for Guardiola’s liking, especially given Rico Lewis has emerged as a viable alternative.
Cancelo is still a top-quality player and will be an excellent addition to a Bayern Munich side that is only one point clear at the Bundesliga and has drawn their past three games. There are reports that Benjamin Pavard is going to be moving to Barcelona in the summer, so they already have a replacement ready if that happens.
Cancelo’s departure is another example of Man City and Guardiola’s ruthlessness when it comes to refreshing their squad. Guardiola has talked at length about the need to regularly move players on and replace them in order to stay hungry and on top. It’s part of the reason why they’re consistently dominant as opposed to stagnating like Liverpool and Chelsea have this season and how Manchester United has in the past.
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