Bayern Munich are set to reject the chance to sign Portugal full-back Joao Cancelo from Manchester City in the summer, according to stunning reports in Italy.
Cancelo completed a shock loan move to Bayern in the January transfer window, with the German club able to make the deal permanent with a £61.5m fee.
The 28-year-old Portuguese defender’s relationship reportedly fractured with City boss Pep Guardiola as Cancelo sought more first-team minutes at the club.
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Cancelo impressed early on in his loan spell at Bayern, but the City loanee has now fallen down the pecking order and is battling for minutes at the Bundesliga side.
The City star, who has two assists in six appearances for Bayern this season, was also relegated to the bench for his side’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
CalcioMercato now reports that Bayern are not expected to trigger the buyout clause in Cancelo’s deal, with the Portugal international’s long-term future in Germany plunged into doubt.
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It is believed that the Bavarians could ship Cancelo back to City at the end of the season, but the Bayern full-back reportedly has other options open to him.
According to CalcioMercato, Chelsea and Real Madrid are monitoring Cancelo’s situation and could make an approach if City want to offload the former Juventus and Valencia player.
Speaking after his exit from City, Cancelo hit out at reports that he had a bust-up with Guardiola and claimed he didn’t “feel important to the team” ahead of signing for Bayern.
“It’s a lie that I had a fight with Guardiola, a complete lie,” he told Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo in February.
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“I didn’t feel important to the team in recent games. I spoke to the coach and he agreed.
“I, the coach and the club decided that I had to leave, that it was the best option for me. I like new opportunities and I have nothing against City.”
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Topics: Joao Cancelo, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Bundesliga, Germany, England, Premier League, Football
Adnan Riaz