Manchester City face a reunion with Joao Cancelo when they take on Al Hilal in the Club World Cup on Monday
Joao Cancelo in action for Al Hilal
As Manchester City look for a right-back to replace Kyle Walker, they may want to take a look at one of Al Hilal’s players. He looks like a perfect Pep Guardiola player, capable of bursting down the wing or coming inside and playing through the middle.
Joao Cancelo was of course perfect for Guardiola, for a time. He overcame a stormy start in 2019 to become one of the most important players in the time, absolutely vital to the Premier League wins in 2021 and 2022.
When things went downhill though, they went quickly and explosively. Cancelo’s fallout with Guardiola was so swift and extreme that as City toiled in January 2023 it was decided that the full-back needed to leave immediately however short it left them in those positions.
City were so eager to get rid they even let Cancelo go on loan to a Champions League rival, and he ended up playing against them for Bayern Munich in the competition. Not that the Blues minded, besting the Bundesliga giants on their way to an historic Treble as Cancelo was forgotten.
A year on loan at Barcelona followed before a permanent transfer to Al Hilal last year. There he was forgotten but now he’s back as part of a Saudi team that have drawn with Real Madrid, knocked out Salzburg, and are looking to claim a bigger scalp in the Club World Cup.
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The FIFA Club World Cup will see 32 of the world’s best club teams including Man City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich play across 63 games from June 14-July 13.
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City are heavy favourites for the last-16 game, yet whatever happens Al Hilal have given an excellent account of themselves and shown they can compete at such a global tournament. They are paid well, and they play well.
That may be enough for Cancelo’s former teammates Jack Grealish and Kyle Walker to consider the Saudi Pro League as they look for an exit for City. Both could also ask Aymeric Laporte or Riyad Mahrez about playing in the league, but Cancelo’s presence at the Club World Cup is a reminder that such a move does not necessarily mean the loss of global prestige that it has previously been associated with.
City would rather both players leave permanently this summer, but with high wages it does not seem straightforward. Turning to the Saudi market could be a priceless way for the club to get what they want while giving the players a move that pays them well and enables them to play in a decent side.
The one concern will be the World Cup in 2016, with Walker and Grealish hoping to do enough to make the England squad. Again, the Club World Cup could be exactly what is needed to see a shift in perception of the relatively new league.
Cancelo will enjoy his reunion with City as he looks to prove he still has the quality to compete at the highest level. And City may not mind if he does if it boosts their chances of securing some much-needed exits from their squad.
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