On the day that the transfer deadline passed, Manchester City gave Joao Cancelo permission to join Barcelona on loan for the upcoming season.

The right-back has scored twice and assisted once through his first four matches for Barcelona, with both of his contributions coming in Barca’s 3-2 victory over Celta Vigo on Saturday.

According to AS, the footballer who is owned by Manchester City moved from “hell to heaven” during the weekend’s match, which saw Barcelona come back from being down 2-0 to win 3-2. Cancelo provided the assist that was necessary for Robert Lewandowski to score the goal that tied the game in the 85th minute. Cancelo then scored the game-winning goal himself four minutes later.

 

Cancelo’s strained relationship with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was a factor in his transfer to the Catalan club from Manchester City. AS has reported on a remark made by journalist Oriol Domènech, who provided insight into what went wrong between the Portugal international and the manager. Domènech’s comments were relayed by AS.

Domènech claims that Guardiola was “not pleased” by this, and that Guardiola “immediately spoke” to Manchester City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain and their CEO Ferran Soriano about removing Cancelo from the dressing room… His viewpoint has not shifted in the interim at all.

 

The Portugal international was benched for three consecutive matches without being utilised, which resulted to the ‘split’ between him and Pep Guardiola.

Before signing with Barcelona, Cancelo played for Bayern Munich on loan during the second half of the previous season.