MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola has suggested there could be a way for João Cancelo to return to Manchester City.
Cancelo was loaned to Bayern Munich in January 2023, a Bundesliga club that decided not to make him permanent and the player spent last season on loan at Barcelona.
Barcelona are interested in re-signing Cancelo on loan but for now the Portuguese full-back, who has not played for City for 18 months, has returned to training with Guardiola.
“He's training with us,” Guardiola said at a news conference on Friday. “We'll see, maybe he'll stay, maybe he'll go on loan. I don't know yet. He's training with us, he's doing very well in training. He loves playing football. We'll see.”
Asked if he could play for City again, Guardiola said: “It can happen, yes.”
Cancelo has twice been named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and was a key part of City's title-winning run in 2021 and 2022. He is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2027 and, while he is still available for a transfer, a move is by no means certain.
“In training we greet each other and talk,” Guardiola said. “What will happen depends on his agents and the club. In the end, if he has to stay, we will treat him like all the other players, as we have done since I've been here.”
“With respect and trying to get the best out of the enormous qualities he has. I never doubt his qualities for a second. But I don't know what will happen.”
Guardiola has also refused to rule out City making another signing before the deadline after losing Julian Alvarez and Oscar Bobb.
Alvarez, who scored 19 goals last season, has joined Atletico Madrid while Bobb has been ruled out for three to four months after suffering a broken leg in training.
“Maybe [another player will arrive] “But maybe not,” Guardiola said. “We'll see. I'm very happy with the squad I have. I know the feeling is 'we have to sign'. We'll see.”
“I'm very happy with the squad I have, with the players I have. We'll see what happens in the market. We can continue like this or maybe we'll bring in some players. I can't say.”
