Inside story of Joao Cancelo’s Man City departure with a defender known for being ‘like a volcano’

Joao Cancelo has earned a reputation for being ‘like a volcano’ when not playing for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola grew tired of the defender’s behavior before his loan to Bayern Munich.

Guardiola’s coaching staff also felt that the Portuguese defender was no longer paying attention in team meetings and his behavior was affecting the team.

Cancelo’s impending loan to Bayern Munich, reported by Sportsmail on Monday, is one of the biggest stories of the transfer window and it came as a huge surprise given his standing as one of the best at his position.

But the full-back has seen his playing time cut significantly this season despite being named in the PFA team of the year last season, and the 28-year-old has bristled at being knocked out multiple times, he claims. the athletic.

Cancelo, whose departure continues to sour after blocking Man City fans, has a reputation for being “like a volcano,” the report claims, and even wanted to leave months after joining City in 2019 because he wasn’t playing enough.

He is also said to have caused a scandal during the 2020-21 season when he was left out of the starting XI for the Champions League semi-final second leg and final against Chelsea, making his feelings clear.

Those close to Cancelo are well aware of how much he hates being on the bench, the report continues, with the player returning from the World Cup ‘depressed’ because he had not played as much as he wanted to.

When he returned to City, he played out of position on the right wing during City’s 1-0 win at Chelsea earlier this month, before being pulled off at half-time, leaving Cancelo “furious”.

Cancelo is known for being “like a volcano” when not playing and the staff felt that his behavior began to affect the group.

A source told the publication: “When she is in a good mood, she is excellent. When he’s in a bad mood, he’s a bad boy. He thinks he is the best and does not accept any advice or correction.

After that game, ‘everything went downhill’ for Cancelo, who was left out of City’s starting XI in a 4-2 win over Spurs in favor of young Rico Lewis, causing ‘a lot of consternation’.

Man City’s coaching staff felt that Cancelo’s behavior was beginning to affect the group, with Guardiola having a strong opinion of players displaying poor body language.

And after being named on the bench for City’s 3-0 win over Wolves, he made his way from the team bus straight to the bench and sat alone, the report claims.

Cancelo had also stopped paying attention in meetings and the coaching group agreed he needed to be traded as he prepares to join Bayern Munich on loan.

Having been left out of City’s 1–0 FA Cup win over Arsenal, the coaching group noted that he was not paying attention during tactical meetings at the club’s training ground and the staff agreed that he needed to be traded.

Cancelo is expected to seal his loan move to Bayern on deadline day, and the German giants have the option to sign him for £61m at the end of the season.

Cancelo is currently under contract at the Etihad until 2027 and will join a Bayern side who have drawn their last three games, allowing Union Berlin to cut the gap with them at the top to just one point.

If a move goes through, Cancelo could play Mainz in the German Cup on Wednesday.

If the change before Bayern’s cup tie is too short, Julian Nagelsmann could throw it in against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday.