Joao Cancelo provides clear message on Manchester City future amid Barcelona uncertainty

Manchester City have received a clear message from on-loan Portugal international defender Joao Cancelo concerning his future beyond this season.

The 29-year-old is currently in limbo over his long-term Etihad Stadium future, having first fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola midway through the 2022/23 Treble-winning season, losing his place in the side to Rico Lewis.

Cancelo – who reportedly had a training ground disagreement with manager Pep Guardiola – was forced out of the football club during the 2023 January transfer window, joining Bayern Munich on a six-month agreement.

After the Bavarian side refused to trigger their buy-option on the player at the end of their deal, Barcelona swooped in to recruit Cancelo on a season-long loan deal and are now looking towards the future and how they could recruit the Portugal international on a permanent basis.

While financial constraints could hold back the Catalan club from making any agreement permanent in the coming months, the player himself has detailed his intentions for his longer-term future beyond the ongoing season.

Speaking as per journalist Victor Navarro, Joao Cancelo was asked whether he expects to continue at Barcelona into the new 2024/25 season, to which the 29-year-old bluntly responded, “Yes, yes.”

Manchester City are unlikely to be open to the idea of Cancelo returning to their playing squad in time for the new season, and will instead seek a long-term replacement for Kyle Walker, which could be closer to home than expected.

On-loan full-back Yan Couto – who is also now a part of Brazil’s senior men’s international set-up – is starring with La Liga high-flyers Girona this season, and could be granted the opportunity to impress Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff during pre-season.

Couto could follow in the footsteps of his current Girona teammate Savio, who is understood to have finalised an agreement to join Manchester City this summer from fellow City Group side ESTAC Troyes.