I don’t resent Pep after argument – but I don’t want to return to Man City

Joao Cancelo fell out with Pep Guardiola in January 2023, and he left Manchester City on loan in the summer.

Joao Cancelo left Manchester City on loan last January and says he doesn’t see himself returning. (Image: Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Last week, Joao Cancelo expressed his desire to remain at Barcelona past the summer. He has now made it very clear that he has no desire to go back to Manchester City.

Cancelo left City in January of last year due to a disagreement with Pep Guardiola regarding his position on the team. Throughout the Christmas 2022 season, Rico Lewis, a teenage player, was preferred at right back, replacing Cancelo. Cancelo won the Bundesliga while playing on loan for Bayern Munich before being transferred to Barcelona for the summer.

Cancelo, who still has three years left on his City contract, claims that Barcelona is “where he always wanted to be” and that he plans to stay for another three.

In an attempt to shed light on the events from his point of view, Cancelo discussed the nature of his argument with Guardiola, which resulted in his first loan exit, while on international duty with Portugal.

“There are things we didn’t agree on, we’re not obligated to agree on everything,” he said to the Portuguese network RTP. It was simply that we couldn’t agree on certain things or that he disagreed with something I said. But I am really appreciative and don’t harbor any resentment. Life goes on, and I’m happy here, really happy.

“They haven’t said anything to me yet, but I’m hoping to stay [at Barcelona].” I’m exerting every effort to ensure that occurs. I would really like to play for Benfica, but I would also like to stay here for another two or three years.

Despite our financial difficulties, I’m happy to be here. It is the club that I have always liked, after Benfica. Pepe frequently claimed to be a player for Real Madrid, but I informed him that Barcelona was the team he played for. In actuality, I am in the place I have always desired.”

Cancelo’s declaration that he intends to finish his career at Benfica is in line with remarks made by Bernardo Silva, who has gained attention this week for restating his long-standing position that he wants to rejoin the Portuguese team where he began his career.