German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have completed the signing of Joao Cancelo on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old Portuguese had reportedly fallen out of favour with manager Pep Guardiola since returning from the World Cup, starting just three of 10 competitive matches, with Nathan Ake the preferred option of left-back and 18-year old Rico Lewis on the opposite flank.
Cancelo – who has a reported option-to-buy clause of €70 million at the end of the loan, will wear the number 22 shirt at Bayern.
“FC Bayern is a great club, one of the best in the world, and it’s enormous motivation for me to now play alongside these extraordinary players in a team,” Cancelo said on the club website.
“I know that this club, this team lives for titles and wins titles every year. I’m also driven by the hunger for success. I‘ll give my best for FC Bayern.”
Our new number 2️⃣2️⃣ 🔴⚪#MiaSanMia #ServusJoão pic.twitter.com/02v3aiJtKC
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) January 31, 2023
Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann described Cancelo as a logical signing, attributing his versatility as a key asset.
“He can feature in a number of positions & is a very attacking-minded defender. He’s able to cut in and is good from crosses. He’s got a different character to some of the other players at his position. It’s a logical signing for us,” the former RB Leipzig manager stated.
Cancelo has made 26 competitive appearances for Manchester City this season and could be in line to make his Bayern debut at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
