Cancelo admits he doesn’t have a “very straightforward personality” amid claims he had a falling out with Guardiola
Bayern Munich mercenary Joao Cancelo admitted he doesn’t have a “very straightforward personality” as he reassured fans of the Bundesliga giants that despite an uneven start in Germany, they could “count on” the Portuguese defender.
The Manchester City player, who left his parent club after falling out of favor with manager Pep Guardiola, joined Bayern in January but has not found solid form since.
The reference to his personality traits can be seen as a reference to rumors of a falling out with City manager Guardiola that hastened his move to Bavaria.
Cancelo had previously forcefully ruled out claims of tension between him and his former coach, labeling them ‘a complete lie’, but then admitted he had ‘a difficult personality’.
Before his move, the player had slipped behind Nathan Ake and Rico Lewis as Guardiola’s first choice on the left.
Joao Cancelo shared details about his “not very simple” personality in an interview with 51
The defender, who is rented from City, has yet to find a solid form in Germany
Drifting from former manager Julian Nagelsmann’s plans towards the end of the German manager’s tenure, Cancelo has everything to prove to new head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Ahead of Bayern’s upcoming Champions League quarter-final against City, Cancelo spoke to the club magazine 51 to reiterate his desire to impress while in Munich.
“It is sometimes said that I may not have such a simple personality. But my heart is in the right place. And you can always count on me,” Cancelo said.
“Everyone and everything at FC Bayern is aimed at absolute success. Here you work very hard in every training session – I really like this mentality. I’m happy to be here and play for this great team,” the defender added.
The player’s move comes with a £62m buy option, but as it stands the club are unlikely to take a chance on a player who has made just six starts for them in the last four months.
Despite this, Cancelo was determined to look on the bright side in his interview, arguing that his start had been ‘positive’.
‘For football players there is always a certain adjustment period. That’s why I tried to integrate myself into the team as soon as possible, to get to know the teammates and the system,” the player noted.
When prompted to provide a more detailed answer to his “not very straightforward” personality, Cancelo expanded, “It’s hard to explain. I will try. I am very impulsive and sentimental and maybe easy to read because I always express what I feel.
“Transparent people like me don’t always have it easy in today’s fast-paced and unforgiving world.”
Cancelo then built up his side’s Champions League hopes ahead of next week’s first leg at the Etihad.
“There are three, four, five clubs that stand for themselves – and FC Bayern is of course one of them. Teams like FC Bayern, Manchester City and Real Madrid are always hard to beat and are favorites to win the Champions League every season. It’s an honor for me to be here. We can handle anyone. We can beat any team,” Cancelo said.
“The Champions League is also my big dream and I will not give up until I realize it. Maybe Bayern will succeed this year, I don’t mind,” he concluded with a smile.
Cancelo previously faced his current manager Tuchel as an unused substitute for City as the Manchester club lost the 2021 Champions League final to Chelsea.
Tuchel’s success in the league just five months after joining the club will have played a part in Bayern’s decision to sign him just over two weeks before their opening game against City.
In the former Chelsea manager’s first game in charge at the Bavarian club, Cancelo again started on the bench and played just 11 minutes.
During Thomas Tuchel’s first match in charge at Bayern, Cancelo came on in 11 minutes
Cancelo was an unused substitute during City’s loss to Tuchel’s Chelsea in the 2021 final
Moments after the final whistle, the 28-year-old left through the tunnel instead of celebrating the 4-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund on the pitch.
After the game, Bayern director Hasan Salihamidzic made an attempt to explain his mercenary’s behavior.
“These are emotions after the game,” said Salihamidzic. ‘It is not a problem. It is normal for a player to be disappointed when he does not play.
“Cancelo is a top player and gets his playing time.”