Joao Cancelo was understandably taken aback when a Portugal reporter told him that he had a new Bayern Munich manager after helping his country beat Lichtenstein 4-0 during last month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers.
“Thanks to [Julian] Nagelsmann, he was the one who wanted me at Bayern. All the luck in the world to him,” he said in response. In truth, he may have been quietly relieved to see the back of the man under whom he’d started just three of seven Bundesliga games.
Perhaps he views Thomas Tuchel’s arrival as a reset and a restart. Under Nagelsmann, Cancelo had played right back, left back, right wing and left wing - probably not the kind of scenario he would have envisioned last season.
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The 28-year-old was the Premier League's best left-back last term and was named in the FifPro World XI in February as a nod to his efforts at Manchester City. But after being a key starter for the Blues, Cancelo was ousted by Nathan Ake and - argument or not - facilitated a move to Bayern.
But upon arrival at the Allianz Arena, the talent was instead being kept out of the team by two players on either defensive flank in Alphonso Davies and Benjamin Pavard. His loan had not been going his way and so he would have been hopeful that Tuchel would view things differently.
He may have been deflated when his new manager named him on the bench for a crunch match with Borussia Dortmund on his debut. The visitors were leading the Bundesliga by a point at that stage but Bayern’s 4-2 win saw them go back to the top of the tree.
Cancelo came on for the final 11 minutes but naturally questions about his inclusion under Tuchel were raised post-match. Bayern director Hasan Salihamidzic fielded the microphones.
“The coach made that decision today but Joao is a top player that we need,” he insisted. “For sure Cancelo will get his games.” We will see what kind of game time Cancelo can expect under Tuchel next week in Bayern’s Champions League quarter-final clash against City.
The full-back is allowed to play against his parent club under Uefa competitions rules, but there is the possibility he may not be granted the honour depending on Tuchel’s thoughts. Both personnel have previous in the competition.
“As for Tuchel, he made me lose a Champions League final,” Cancelo added to the Portugal reporter, referencing the 2021 showdown in Porto when Tuchel lifted ‘big ears’ while manager of Chelsea. “So I hope he will win it for me this year!”
There could be disappointment again for Cancelo if he is not selected to play - it would mean he will not have been picked for Bayern’s two most important games so far this season and with that, it would surely indicate Tuchel’s long-term plans for him.
If Bayern opt against a permanent transfer, then Pep Guardiola will have a decision to make, one which will have added scrutiny given City’s problem at left-back this season. Guardiola himself has unfinished Champions League business with Tuchel regarding the 2021 final.
But the German might give him a hint about what he can expect to hear from Bayern and Cancelo this summer should the £60m man fail to feature against his employers next week.
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