Joao Cancelo’s Dressing Room Behavior Sparks Unrest at Manchester City
The success of Manchester City under Pep Guardiola has often been attributed to the club’s stringent approach to maintaining squad harmony.
However, recent reports suggest that this delicate balance is being disrupted by one of the team’s high-profile players.
The star in question is none other than Portugal international Joao Cancelo, whose attitude and behavior have reportedly caused unrest in the City dressing room, raising concerns about his future with the club.
Guardiola’s tenure at Manchester City has seen its fair share of clashes with big personalities. From Yaya Touré’s troubled start to the 2016/17 season to the abrupt sidelining of Joe Hart during Guardiola’s early days in charge, the Catalan manager has never shied away from making tough decisions.
His no-nonsense approach has been key to fostering a winning mentality within the squad, leading to unparalleled success, including last season’s historic treble.
However, one incident that threatened to derail the 2022/23 campaign involved Joao Cancelo. The talented full-back, known for his versatility and flair, found himself at odds with Guardiola, leading to a surprising loan move to Barcelona in January.
The departure of Cancelo was seen as a risky move, especially considering his significant contributions to City’s success in previous seasons. Yet, the emergence of young Rico Lewis, who impressed with his performances, seemingly made Cancelo surplus to requirements.
Cancelo’s decision to push for a move away from City was met with mixed reactions. While some saw it as a natural consequence of competition within the squad, others viewed it as a sign of discord between the player and the management.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Barcelona, where Cancelo spent the latter half of the previous season on loan, is now hesitant to bring the player back permanently. The reason? Concerns about his behavior in the dressing room and his performances in crucial matches.
The report from Sport indicates that Barcelona has “doubts” about Cancelo’s attitude, particularly his response when not selected for key games and his interactions with younger players. This aligns with rumors from last season that Cancelo did not react well to being replaced by Rico Lewis in the City starting lineup.
The situation reportedly escalated after a subpar performance in the Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain, which caused further alarm in the Barcelona boardroom.
The echoes of this dissatisfaction can be traced back to Cancelo’s mistake in City’s 1-0 loss to Liverpool during his final season at the Etihad, which was cited as a turning point in his relationship with Guardiola.
Moreover, the financial aspect of a potential transfer adds another layer of complexity. Sport claims that Cancelo is unwilling to accept the wage cut that Barcelona would require to sign him permanently.
This has led to speculation about alternative destinations for the full-back, with a move to Saudi Arabia being mentioned, particularly as City appears to have retained Kyle Walker, reducing Cancelo’s chances of regaining a regular starting spot.
As the new season begins, Cancelo remains a part of Manchester City’s squad, participating in training sessions but notably absent from the matchday squads in recent fixtures against Manchester United and Chelsea.
Whether his future lies with City or elsewhere, the ongoing concerns about his attitude and dressing-room presence have cast a shadow over what was once a promising career at the Etihad.
City will be back in action at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, where they will face newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
With the spotlight firmly on Guardiola’s team selection, all eyes will be on whether Cancelo has any role to play as the Champions aim to maintain their strong start to the new campaign.
Joao Cancelo’s Dressing Room Behavior Sparks Unrest at Manchester City