From the most reliable player in Manchester City to a loaned-out player at the very end of the transfer window – what three months for Joao Cancelo! The steady full-back is on the verge of completing a surprise loan move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich with an option to buy, according to the Athletic. This sudden move shocked the European transfer market, which was too busy looking at what will Chelsea do next and didn’t expect something like this. But everything was done quickly, which means that both the player and his coach agreed it was best for all to call it a day, until June at least. News #Cancelo: The 28 y/o right back from #MCFC is on his way to Munich! Medical scheduled for today. Loan until the end of the season. Massive transfer for Bayern! Pavard is not in shape and can leave the club in summer. Mazraoui is out for weeks. @SkySportDE 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/Og5xEl0R2H— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 30, 2023 The reason why this was such a surprise move was the fact that we are talking about one of the best full-backs in the Premier League and a guy who was, just months ago, the most consistent member of Pep Guardiola’s starting 11. He won two consecutive titles with the Spaniard and is under contract until the summer of 2027. So far he has played 100 minutes more than anybody in that team, even thou he hasn’t played in the last three games. The rumour is that the Portuguese international was on ‘thin ice’ after a clumsy red card against Fulham and has played less since that game, in which City won by the injury time goal by Erling Haaland, but everybody expected that whatever reason it was, things will be resolved, just like with Kyle Walker in the similar situation. But they didn’t. In the meantime, he lost his place in the Portuguese national team at the World Cup to Diogo Dalot. A change of scenery is something which he obviously wanted, and if everything pans out well in Munich, the Bavarians have the option to buy him for 70 million euros.Bayern used to have the German crown attached to their head with super glue – but not anymoreJust for a reminder, Bayern has three players on the right back: Benjamin Pavard, Noussair Mazraoui and Bouna Sarr, with the latter two injured. The French international was not happy being moved to the right full-back spot and even moaned publicly, thinking of moving to Italy. With Cancelo in the team, the Bavarians can happily sell Pavard in the summer and use that transfer money to reach the 70 million needed for the permanent transfer of the Portuguese. Cancelo can also cover the left-back position (if needed) and the Bavarians have Alphonso Davis and Lucas Hernandes already there. ##NAJAVA_MECA_6978720##
