When Manchester City go toe-to-toe with Al-Hilal in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Club World Cup, they will be reunited with Joao Cancelo.
Famously, Cancelo left Manchester City all of a sudden in January to sign for Bayern Munich on loan after the likes of Rico Lewis and Nathan Ake took his place in the side for a few games.
Manchester City’s decision to let the Portuguese international raised eyebrows at the time, Pep Guardiola was vindicated as his Sky Blues side won the treble in the same season.
Cancelo’s decision to join Al-Hilal was criticised last year after both Bayern and Barcelona chose not to sign him permanently.
Pep Guardiola says he has ‘incredible respect’ for Joao Cancelo
Joao Cancelo was magnificent for most of his spell at Manchester City but in the space of a few years, he decided to depart European football.
However, on Monday, the 31-year-old has the chance to remind Pep Guardiola and some of his former teammates why he remains a top player.
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Ahead of his side’s clash against Al-Hilal, Pep Guardiola revealed via Manchester City’s official YouTube channel that despite Cancelo’s frustration at being left out of the side in 2024 and leaving on loan, he respects him massively: “All players that have been with us I have incredible memories! I have incredible respect for Joao and everyone.”
Joao Cancelo in action for Al-Hilal.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
“Always when you take decisions it’s not easy. When your boss tells you, ‘You don’t work. Stay at home’, how would you feel? That is what players feel when you say you don’t play! He has an incredible heart, but he was upset and sad because he didn’t play, he loves to play football! When I said, ‘Training is over’, he said, ‘No, no! One more! One more!’ He loves to play football, and I’m happy he had the experience in Barcelona and after in Al-Hilal, happy he’s back from injury.
Pep Guardiola admitted he is happy to be reunited with Cancelo, concluding: “Joao was nominated best full-back in the year we won the quadruple. He’s an exceptional player; he can play right, left, both legs without problem. And I’m happy tomorrow to see him.”
Joao Cancelo shares what went wrong between him and Pep Guardiola
The former Juventus full-back will be keen to prove a point but he will have his hands full if the in-form Jeremy Doku starts on the left-wing.
Cancelo revealed his thoughts on Guardiola last year by briefly disclosing what went wrong between the pair.
Pep Guardiola ahead of Manchester City v Wydad.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
The former City defender said: “There are things we didn’t agree on, we’re not obligated to agree on everything.”
“I had things I didn’t agree on or he didn’t agree with something I said, it was just that.”
“But I don’t have resentment, I am very grateful. Life goes on, I am very, very happy here [at Barcelona].”
It seems like Pep Guardiola and Cancelo still hold each other in high esteem despite how sourly the player’s time ended at Manchester City.