Fans spot Joao Cancelo’s classy gesture towards Man City before Champions League return with Bayern Munich
JOAO CANCELO made a classy gesture towards Manchester City as he returned with Bayern Munich last night.
The full-back is currently on loan with the German giants after falling out of favour at City during the first half of the season.
As he arrived at the Etihad for last night’s Champions League quarter-final first leg, Cancelo was filmed walking through a familiar corridor.
While making his way to the Bayern dressing room, the 28-year-old refused to step on the City badge on the carpet of the hallway.
He instead carefully stepped around the badge.
One fan wrote “respect” while another added: “Forgiven for this”.
A third tweeted: “Hopefully he doesn’t get booed tbh, he’s still our player.”
Cancelo was named as a substitute by Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel.
He didn’t come on until his side were already 3-0 down in the 81st minute.
The Portuguese star, who won two Premier League title with City, was loudly booed by home supporters.
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Having previously been a key player at the Etihad, Cancelo found his minutes begin to dwindle after the World Cup – with Nathan Ake and youngster Rico Lewis getting playing time ahead of him.
The decision was made to loan him to Bayern, and Cancelo explained in February: “As I already said, he [Pep Guardiola] found a way to play, after the World Cup, in which he started playing with a full-back more inside, where I also played, and he liked what he saw with Rico and Nathan.
“But I think a player is always a bit selfish. Any player wants to feel important, wants to play and anyone who says otherwise is lying.
“A competitive player, like me, who aspires to win titles, just wants to play. It’s not a question of devaluing my team-mates. But I thought I deserved to play and he didn’t.
‘I HAVE A DIFFICULT PERSONALITY’
“So we talked, it was a conversation, not a discussion, and we decided that the best thing would be for me to leave this market.
“An opportunity I couldn’t refuse. It was by mutual agreement. If City didn’t want to, they wouldn’t let me leave, because I had a contract. I’m very professional, I’ve always given my face for all the clubs.
“I have a difficult personality, yes, but I have never, at any time, disrespected team-mates or coaches.”
Cancelo remains under contract at City until 2027.
A permanent switch to Bayern Munich so far appears unlikely, with Benjamin Pavard and Alphonso Davies often starting ahead of him in the full-back positions.