Joao Cancelo provides damning update on Manchester City future amid Barcelona doubts

Manchester City have received an update from Joao Cancelo himself and the Portugal international’s own view on his longer-term future ahead of the summer market.

The 29-year-old is into the second successive loan spell away from the Etihad Stadium, having fallen out of favour under Pep Guardiola midway through the eventual Treble-winning campaign of 2022/23.

A switch to Bayern Munich for the second-half of last season ultimately saw the German giants refuse the option to make their temporary agreement permanent, leaving Cancelo to return to Manchester City for pre-season duties in Asia last summer.

Upon returning to England with the squad, club officials and representatives of the versatile full-back arranged a season-long loan move to Barcelona, and with that deal rapidly closing in on it’s expiry, Cancelo has been quizzed on what the future holds.

Speaking during a new interview with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Joao Cancelo revealed that while he ‘does not know anything’ about his future, he would like to remain with Barcelona beyond this season.

“I don’t know anything, but I would like to stay here. I grew up admiring Ronaldinho’s Barça, my idol,” Cancelo explained. “For me, it is a pride to wear this shirt.”

The on-loan Manchester City defender continued by laughing about the lack of other options for him at this stage of his career, and in reference to his extensive list of employers throughout his top-level game, “There aren’t many other clubs I can go to, right?”

Manchester City in turn are unlikely to welcome Cancelo back to the club this summer, having firmly moved on from the eventual tumultuous time seen with the Portuguese defender, which led to the integration of Rico Lewis into the first-team squad.

Kyle Walker largely remains Manchester City’s first-team right-back, however club officials could assess the talents of on-loan Brazil international Yan Couto this summer, following on from his excellent showings with Girona.

Couto is likely to return to City at the end of the ongoing season and join the club on their pre-season tour of the United States, with a decision made during that trip or upon their return to the City Football Academy in August.