João Cancelo (Part 3)

João Cancelo showcased his attacking prowess by scoring his first goal of the season for Manchester City in a thrilling 6–3 home victory against RB Leipzig in the Champions League group stage. His ability to contribute in attack was further highlighted on 3 November when he provided a hat-trick of assists for Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, and Gabriel Jesus in a 4–1 home win against Club Brugge in the Champions League, earning him the man of the match award.
Cancelo continued his impressive form on 6 November in the Manchester derby against Manchester United at Old Trafford. He played a pivotal role in City's 2–0 victory, creating both goals by forcing an Eric Bailly own goal and providing an assist for Bernardo Silva, marking his fifth assist of the season in just two games.


Celebrating his 100th appearance for Manchester City on 19 December, Cancelo marked the occasion with a memorable performance. He scored a spectacular long-range shot and provided an assist in a commanding 4–0 victory against Newcastle United, further solidifying his importance to the team's success.
On 31 January 2023, João Cancelo embarked on a new chapter in his career as he was loaned to Bayern Munich for the remainder of the season, with an option to buy for €70 million (£61.6 million). Reports from The Athletic suggested that Cancelo's relationship with his manager, Pep Guardiola, had deteriorated due to a lack of playing time. Despite being a key player for Manchester City in previous seasons, Cancelo found himself gradually losing his place in the starting lineup after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, leading to tensions between him and Guardiola.


Cancelo made an impactful debut for Bayern Munich in a 4–0 DFB-Pokal win over Mainz 05, providing an assist for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's goal. He continued to impress, scoring his first goal for the club in a thrilling 5–3 victory over Augsburg in the Bundesliga on 11 March.
However, one of the most significant moments of Cancelo's loan spell came on 12 April 2023, when Bayern Munich faced his parent club, Manchester City, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Despite being booed by sections of the City supporters during the match, Guardiola came to Cancelo's defense, emphasizing his importance to the team in previous seasons.


Despite Cancelo's contributions, Bayern Munich was ultimately knocked out of the Champions League by Manchester City, losing 4–1 on aggregate following a 1–1 draw in the second leg. However, Cancelo played a pivotal role in helping Bayern secure their 11th consecutive league title, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 victory over FC Köln on 27 May 2023.
Despite his successful loan spell, Bayern Munich opted not to activate Cancelo's buy-out clause at the end of the season, choosing to prioritize funds for other signings. Consequently, Cancelo's departure from the club was confirmed on 1 July.


Following his loan move to Bayern Munich, João Cancelo rejoined Manchester City for pre-season. However, he did not feature in any of City's opening three Premier League fixtures, the FA Community Shield, or the UEFA Super Cup, as he sought to finalize a move away from the club. On 3 August, Cancelo agreed to personal terms to join La Liga club Barcelona. The club's manager, Xavi, who had identified Cancelo as a priority target, played a crucial role in securing the move.
In the final moments of the summer transfer window, Bayern Munich contacted Manchester City to potentially re-acquire Cancelo on loan once again. This move was prompted by Barcelona's financial difficulties involving La Liga's Financial Fair Play regulations. However, on 1 September, Barcelona confirmed the signing of Cancelo on a season-long loan. This came after La Liga accepted the financial guarantees offered by Barcelona's board, allowing Cancelo to be registered in La Liga.


Cancelo made his debut for Barcelona two days later, coming on as a 59th-minute substitute in a 2–1 away win over Osasuna. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for the club on 16 September in a dominant 5–0 win against Real Betis. Cancelo's goal earned him the La Liga Goal of the Month award. He continued to impress, providing an assist and scoring a last-minute winner in Barcelona's 3–2 home victory against Celta Vigo on 23 September.
On 28 November, Cancelo delivered a standout performance, scoring and assisting in Barcelona's 2–1 comeback win at home against his former club's rivals, Porto, in the Champions League group stage. His performance earned him the man of the match award and secured Barcelona's spot in the round of sixteen for the first time since the 2020–21 season.


João Cancelo represented Portugal in various youth tournaments before making his senior debut. He participated in the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship and was subsequently selected for the following edition in Lithuania.
At the under-20 level, Cancelo featured in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2014 Toulon Tournament. In the FIFA U-20 World Cup, he played in two games as Portugal reached the round of 16.
Cancelo was also part of the Portuguese under-21 squad that competed in the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Although he only made one appearance in the tournament, coming on as a substitute in the semi-final win against Germany, Portugal finished as runners-up to Sweden in the final.


João Cancelo made his debut for the Portugal national team on 1 September 2016, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring a goal in a 5–0 friendly win over Gibraltar. He continued to make significant contributions in the following matches, scoring goals in FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and the Faroe Islands.
Although he was initially named in the preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Cancelo did not make the final cut for the tournament. However, he played a key role in Portugal's successful campaign in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League, helping them qualify for the finals and ultimately win the trophy.


Cancelo was also included in Portugal's squad for UEFA Euro 2020 but was unable to participate due to testing positive for COVID-19 just before the tournament began.
In October 2022, Cancelo was named in Portugal's preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He made the final 26-man squad for the tournament but lost his starting spot amid a dip in form, with Diogo Dalot taking his place in the lineup for the knockout stage matches. Portugal's journey in the tournament ended with a loss to Switzerland in the quarter-finals, with Cancelo featuring as a substitute.


João Cancelo is renowned for his remarkable speed, energy, and offensive prowess, coupled with exceptional technique, dribbling skills, creativity, and crossing ability. He primarily operates as a full back or winger on the right flank, where he excels in both defensive and attacking roles.
When playing as a traditional full back, Cancelo demonstrates excellent timing in his forward runs, preferring to move forward with possession rather than making overlapping runs. He adeptly cuts inside from the right flank, utilizing his strong dribbling skills and confidence on both feet to trouble defenders. Despite predominantly using his right foot, he is proficient at crossing with his weaker left foot and is capable of combining effectively with teammates in advanced positions.

References

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11. ^ Hurtado, José Luis (20 April 2016). "1, 2, 3, Alcácer otra vez" [1, 2, 3, Alcácer again]. Marca (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
12. ^ Superdeporte (18 October 2016). "João Cancelo as an unbalancing factor". Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.